A Seperate Peace

6 Pages 1471 Words

SYMBOLISM OF A SEPARATE PEACE

By Jeremiah Noack

Thesis: John Knowles uses symbolism in the novel A Separate Peace to show the coming of age, in young people in high school.


I. INTRODUCTION

II. SYMBOLISM OF CHARACTERS

A. Gene symbolizes Phineas

B. Complete opposites

III. THE DEVON AND NAGUAMSETT RIVERS

A. Devon as carefree summer days

B. Naguamsett as adulthood

IV. THE WAR
A. War as reality

B. Effects of the war on students

V. Conclusion







Jeremiah Noack Noack 1
Mrs. Hardy
Symbolism
04/18/2001
Symbolism in A Separate Peace

John Knowles’ A Separate Peace attracts many young readers because of its high school setting. One of his uses of symbolism is to show how Phineas and Gene are complete opposites. Another use of symbolism is, the Devon as carefree summer days, and the Naguamsett as adulthood. He also uses symbolism with the war as reality, and how is effects the students at Devon. Knowles uses symbolism as the main components in his novel A Separate Peace.
Phineas and Gene are often considered to be symbols of the two sides of the human personality-good and evil. Phineas becomes a symbol of the ideal person. He is kind, considerate, compassionate, and an excellent friend to Gene. “Phineas is a complete opposite of Gene, he is a natural athlete, and a complete individualist, interested in immediate and innocuous personal pleasures”(Forbes, 1). Gene, on the other hand, is a follower. He appears to be an admirable person, but deep down inside can be evil and vindictive from all the anger that has built up. Gene is a symbol of the fallen man. Throughout the novel, the question that the reader continually ponders is whether or not Gene deliberately shook the tree limb so that Finny would fall. Gene subconsciously was jealous of Phineas' success as an athlete at Devon, which probably motivated him in wanting ...