A Separate Peace
...rprised at such a ridiculous excuse and urges him to go study vigorously. These instances suggest that Gene has a concealed envy buried inside him. But throughout the story, as Gene discovers that every negative obsession he has about Finny and their friendship, is purposely created by himself, he starts realizing that it is really him that is jealous of Finny. Gene finally notices that his best friend is especially loyal and fond. However, when he actually acknowledges this and tries to change himself and stop assuming things, it’s too late. The problem is that you don’t appreciate what you got until it’s gone. Gene changes completely throughout the novel, an example is that in the beginning, when Finny is injured and Dr. Stanpole tells Gene that sports are finished for Finny, Gene doesn’t go out for any sports; feeling sorry and regretful. Though when Finny comes back to the Devon School, Finny expresses his fury and makes Gene train hard for the “Olympics”. This shows that he changed into enjoying working every muscle of his body, when he used to be lethargic. Nonetheless, these instances of rewarding friendship and educating experiences teach Gene his lessons of life. Phineas is the exact opposite of Gene; that is why both friends always secretly thought that the other person was the other half of himself. Finny is an energetic, compassionate athlete that doesn’t care about getting recognition but the love of the sport. An example of Finny’s bold and adventurous character is how he just wakes up one day and packs his belongings to spend a few days at the beach without any doubt or preparations. In addition, the organization of the Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session, Blitzball, and the Winter Carnival all illustrate how popular and a leader he is. Although some may not notice a change in Finny during the end of A Separate Peace, but there is a slight difference in him from what he used to be. Finny used to imagine that the war that was going on was a fake joke that old men made up to profit from; this is just one example showing that Finny doesn’t face reality. However, towards the end of the novel, Finny admits that he wished that there was no war going on, because he couldn’t take all the misery and pain with a war topping it off. Finny faces reality when he realizes that his perfect, adolescent fairytale life full of laughter and summer games, only lasts for a summer and life isn’t the way he wants it. But one quality of Finny’s never changed: his serene sportsmanship and generous soul. His last words to Finny were, “I believe you. It’s okay because I understand and I believe you. You’ve already shown me and I believe you,” with tears rolling down his cheeks (183). Even all the ignorance and rivalry Gene had in him couldn’t harden Finny’s kind heart. Gene and Finny are two best friends that are so similar, but yet have contrary traits. For example, Gene lives by the rules and can’t imagine not following them, whereas Finny makes his own rules that fit in...