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Characters 'Change In The Novel A Separate Peace'

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In literature, mostly all of the central characters undergo a meaningful change because of a choice he or she made.“Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.”( Roy T.Bennett). In a Separate Peace , it tells the story of Gene’s change from being innocent and making atrocious decisions, to adulthood. At the beginning of the novel, Gene is guiltless and unconcerned, he is an exemplary student with few preoccupations such as studying and being friends with Finny.However, as the novel advances, Gene cultivates another side of his personality. One with dark motives and a great deal of jealousy. One choice, a …show more content…

A substantial part of growth is the decisions a person makes throughout their lifetime. In the novel a Separate Peace, the reader can see how Gene, the prominent character, experiences a radical change in the novel. Some decisions like becoming friends with Finny help him comprehend who he truly is. This companionship also gives Gene an understanding of his personality and of a free world with no rules. Decisions do not always have to be good, for example the decision of pushing finny off the tree was cruel, nevertheless it helped Gene grow. By this action, Gene realized his immaturity, which helped him make wiser decisions. This not only introduced him to adulthood but also to responsibilities. But the greatest moment that gave Gene maturity was when he realized that his decisions and his immaturity caused Finny's death. Sometimes realizing your own mistakes is what causes the most change within you. “Levels of reality I had never suspected before, a kind of thronging and epic grandeur which my superficial eyes and cluttered mind had been blind to before. They unrolled away impervious to me as though I were a roaming ghost”(Knowles, 30). Gene has moved into the adult world, leaving his youth behind. This development is reflected in this quote as he considers his old, young, immature self,

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