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This is an extension of our classroom. You will use this blog to communicate as a class, either in response to an assignment or in the aftermath of a seminar discussion when class flew by too quickly and there simply wasn't time to make all of your points. These posts are graded, and must use appropriate language.
Welcome to our class blog!
You should use this space for engaging in academic and school related conversations for which you will receive a grade. You should be respectful and intelligent in your posts. Treat this space, and what you say here, as if it were the classroom. Inappropriate, derogatory, and inflamatory remarks will not be tolerated.
About Me
- Ms. Soderquist
- That's me with Ishmael Beah at the writing workshop he taught with his mom, Laura Simms!
Night
Dante's Inferno
I believe that Gene's separate peace is that after Finny is dead, he can throw away the identy of Finny that he has tried to formulate, and live his life with his own. In the beginning of the novel, Gene and Finny are reffered to as "best pals." Even though they are, there is a war proceeding between the two and only Gene knows of it because it is in his heart and his only. Gene attempts to formulate his identity from trying to be someone else, someone like Finny. This is also known as Gene's envy over Finny From this "envy" that Gene has he bounces Gene off the tree, and feels good about it at first. After Finny is taken to the hospital, Gene realizes what he has actually done and breaks down in tears. After Finny partly recovers from his injury and returns to the Devon School, Brinker calls a trail. He also hsa an envy over Gene, from seeing him being "best pals" with Finny. Towards the end of the trial, Finny is furious towards Brinker and storms out of the First Academy Building, but clumsly falls down the marble stairs. Finny had shattered his leg once again, and during the operation to repair it, some of his bone marrow had traveled to his heart and killed him. Now that Finny is out of Gene's life, he no loger has to be someone else, but he can't admit this and forgive him self for his actions fifteen years ago. So fifteen years later, Gene returns to the Devon School and revisits the tree, and the marble staricase so that he could let go of the actions he performed. Though Gene does learn to be himself and obtains his "separate peace," it is to late to save the life of his best pal Finny.
ReplyDelete- Carmine DiCesare
CORRECTION
ReplyDelete*From this "envy" that Gene has he bounces FINNY off the tree, and feels good about it at first.
*Now that Finny is out of Gene's life, he no longer has to be someone else but he COULDN'T admit this and forgive himself for his actions fifteen years ago.
-Carmine DiCesare
Gene is able to achieve his separate peace after Finny dies. His separate peace is knowing that Finny will not control his life anymore. When Gene says, "...my war ended before I ever put on a uniform; I was on active duty all my time at school; I killed my enemy there"(204). Gene gets his separate peace when he kills his enemy, Finny. When Gene returns to the school 15 years later he is content with he has done and is able to live his life in peace.
ReplyDelete-Tyler Smith
ReplyDeleteI think that Genes separate peace is the face that Finny died, and Gene no longer has to compete with him. Gene's whole life was him trying to keep up with Finny. He would try to better Finny, and now that Finny is dead Gene has no need to be compared to Finny
ReplyDeleteI believe that Gene is finally capable of achieving his separate piece when he feels the relief of Finny’s death. When Finny was well enough to play sports, there was always competition between Gene and Finny. Gene was jealous of Finny’s athleticism, so when Finny fell of the tree Gene felt as his he finally surpassed Finny and jumped in the river to help him. When Finny actually dies is when Gene really finds his own peace. The feeling that Gene now does not have to train for the Olympics for Finny or play sports, makes Gene feel like his own person now. Finny is not there to control how Gene lives and what he does with his life. That is when Gene truly discovered his peace and his own identity.
ReplyDelete-Joe Juliano
I also believe that Gene's separate peace is after Finny's death. He is finally at peace with himself because the internal war going on inside of his heart has stopped along with his envy and jealousy. Gene even develops his own self after Finny's destruction or death. He is no longer insecure about himself and accepts his faults. Before his flashback, it is shown that he has matured, and he moves on with his life knowing he can never go back to his Devon years again.
ReplyDelete--Bridget Yahoodik
I believe Gene found his separate peace when he realized that life's problems must be dealt with and not avoided. Whenever a bad event happens to Gene he always tries to pretend like nothing is wrong. For example, Gene knows his friendship with Finny is not strong in the beginning of the story, but Gene still acts like Phineas is his best friend. Early on, Gene believes that Finny is trying to lure him away from his school work so his grades will suffer. This greatly angers Gene and it is part of the envy that led Gene to let Finny fall from the tree. Instead of speaking to Finny about this problem to try and resolve it Gene decides not to say anything. Saying nothing causes Gene to build up more envy inside. Similarly, Gene tries to ignore the fact that he was the reason why Finny fell from the tree. When the accident was occurring, Gene narrates, "I took a step toward him, and then my knees bent and i jounced the limb"(59-60). Later in the story, however, Gene keeps telling himself that he was not the cause for Finny falling. Gene becomes very defensive when Leper accuses him of making Finny fall. When Leper says, "like that time you crippled him" (145), Gene becomes very defensive and tips Leper out of his chair. At a point in time, Gene realizes that one cannot run away from all of his/her problems. At this time, Gene found his separate peace.
ReplyDelete-Katie Rowe
I agree with the idea that Gene obtains peace once Finny is dead. After Finny’s death, Gene no longer has any competition in his life. No one is controlling any aspect of his life any longer, like how he spends his time. Finny's death also affects Gene in the sense that a part of Gene is now dead; the part that "was" Finny. Now Gene has his own identity, and moves on with his life when he is enlisted in the Air Force. At the end of the novel, Gene states, "I never killed anybody and I never developed an intense level of hatred for the enemy. Because my war ended before I even put on a uniform; I was on active duty all my time at school; I killed my enemy there." From this quote it is quite apparent that Gene has learned how to control his emotions after Finny's incident. In addition, when he says his war ended before he put on a uniform, he is referring to his war with Finny; Finny was the enemy that he killed at school. Therefore, Gene feels relieved that the cause of his internal and emotional battle has terminated, and in this way obtains his own peace.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, as Gene reminisces on his past, he is able to accept it as it was. As a teenager, he does not face what he did to Finny, but tries to put it out of his mind. When Gene goes back to Devon as a mature adult, he has a better outlook on everything that happened and is willing to accept his wrongdoing. Gene's recollection and acceptance of his life and actions at Devon also add to the acquiring of his separate peace.
gmgx27= Giana Grimaldi
ReplyDeleteDoes the Devon School have anything to do with the title, A Separate Peace?
ReplyDeleteIn response to Ms. Soderquist:
ReplyDeleteDuring the summer session at The Devon School, a feeling of freedom is apparent, and everyone is overall more easy-going. This is a peaceful time of year in comparison to the winter session, which could be deemed a “separate peace”. In addition, the students who attend Devon seem to have a peaceful attitude about them when around the ones they love at the school. The emotion that the students possess could be spread to the faculty, therefore creating a school wide feeling of serenity at certain moments in time. On page 24, Gene narrates that “I think we reminded them of what peace was like, we boys of 16”. This further emphasizes the fact that the students are more influential to the faculty than they might believe.
To the original question:
I believe Gene does not achieve this “separate peace” until the end of the novel. When he is an adult, Gene realizes that his trying to become a part of Phineas in his teenage years was not necessary in the development of his character, and only hurt him in the end. This has been the problem that Gene has been struggling with throughout his life since he first met Gene; he is never successful in fully satisfying his need of pleasing or even becoming Phineas.
I believe that Gene's separate peace is his separation from Finny which released him from the jealousy he had of Finny. He was able to find peace and his own identity after leaving the Devon School and Finny. Gene was constantly being challenged emotionally and intellectually at the school by his fellow class mates. Now that he is away from all of this fighting and internal conflict he can return and find the peace within the Devon School and himself. The title, A Separate Peace, has to do with the Devon School because this is where Gene finds his peace as an adult. The Devon School for Gene was a place of peace during his school years. In spite of his inner conflicts with Finny it was still a haven from the outside world for him, but he was not able to realize this until Finny was gone. The school was away from the realities of the world war and all of the problems that humans face in society. It was an island of peace and serenity during the time of war. Leper is an example of what happens when you are released into reality at such a young age. Gene’s separate peace is the loss of Finny, the loss of all his jealousy and conflict and the Devon School is where he finds this peace as a mature adult. -John Potter Furey
ReplyDeleteGene's Separate Peace
ReplyDeleteGene’s separate peace comes from his learning to take responsibility for his actions. After Finny falls out of the tree due to Gene jouncing the limb, Gene is guilt-ridden. When he is visiting Finny in the hospital, Gene thinks, “if Phineas had been sitting here in this pool of guilt…what would he have done?” (66). Gene, himself, is surrounded by the guilt of his action, however, his lack of maturity results in his inability to comprehend if he should or should not tell Finny that it was his fault Finny fell. Later, as Gene attempts to reveal to Finny the truth surrounding the fall, Gene resorts to saying that “[Gene is] not making too much sense today” (71). Gene cannot allow himself to confess that he jumped on the limb to make Finny fall. As Gene cannot admit his mistake, nor take responsibility, he continues to live with a guilty conscience. Furthermore, Gene’s guilt results in his increased anxiety about someone finding out he caused Finny to fall. Even when Brinker jokes about Gene’s involvement in Finny’s fall, Gene says to Brinker “shut up! I swear to God you ride a joke longer than anybody I know” (89). Gene cannot feel at ease since he knows that Brinker’s accusation of him is correct. Furthermore, as Gene resorts to playing along with Brinker, he cannot even say “[I] pushed [Finny] out of the tree” (90), since “[his] throat [was] closing on [the aforementioned words]” (90). Gene still cannot accept his responsibility in pushing Finny from the tree and subsequently, cannot achieve a sense of separate peace. However, Gene is later able to take responsibility for his actions as Brinker’s insistence on learning the truth results in a trial that finds Gene guilty for pushing Finny. Gene has finally taken responsibility for his actions and is able to apologize to Finny, who accepts what Gene has to say. Finally, as Gene returns to Devon as an adult to view the tree that caused all of his guilt, he remarks that “[he is] changed… [and] it was time to come in out of the rain” (14). Gene has found his sense of a separate peace as he is changed by revisiting the tree that started all of Gene’s guilt. Gene accepts full responsibility for his action and can move on, and leave his guilt behind, resulting in his own peace.
Devon School
The Devon School exhibits the idea of a “separate peace.” The Devon school is caught up in the grand scheme of World War II; however, the true nature of the war is not apparent at Devon during the summer. Devon is exhibited as a place of peace, where the war does not affect the boys. The boys do not understand the significance of war until Leper enlists and returns insane. Therefore, as there is no true war going on at Devon, it represents a separate peace from the ongoing World War.
In A Separate Peace, a novel written by John Knowles, Gene Forrester, the novel’s protagonist, eventually reaches his own sense of peace. In my opinion, Gene’s “separate peace” emerges when he spends time having fun with his friends, particularly at the Winter Carnival. While Gene basks in the sunshine, participates in contests, and enjoys the taste of forbidden apple cider, he completely pushes thoughts of war out of his mind. The aforementioned activities provide Gene a sense of amusement, unlike World War II, which gives Gene feelings of anxiety and nervousness. As Gene enjoys his friends’ company at the Winter Carnival, he has the opportunity to forget the dangers that lurk beyond the borders of the Devon School. He can act like a typical teenage boy, and focus on having fun and being entertained. As a result, he reaches his own sense of peace.
ReplyDeleteAnother reason why the Winter Carnival brings Gene a sense of personal peace is because he can disregard Finny’s supposed “treachery.” Gene truly enjoys himself, especially while watching Finny create his own unique dance. Gene is overwhelmed with amusement that all he focuses on are the positive aspects of the Winter Carnival – he does not focus on Finny’s betrayals, but on the overall excitement of the day. I definitely believe that Gene’s “separate peace” occurs while he spends time with his classmates.
^ Laura Ricciardone
ReplyDeleteLauren = Lauren Fabiszewski
ReplyDeleteI believe that Gene achieves his separate peace after Finny dies. After Finny’s death, Gene can become his own person. He has no one to compete against anymore. Gene envied Finny and tried to become Finny. When Finny dies, Gene realizes now that he can be himself and not have to pretend to be somebody he is not. Finny’s death also symbolizes the death of Gene’s character as well. In the book, Gene describes trying to act like Finny and live up to him. Now that Finny is dead, Gene no longer has a reason to try to beat Finny or compete with him to be the best. Gene always fought an inner war with himself. He was struggling with who he was as a person. When Finny dies, Gene’s war fades away because he no longer needs to act like someone he is not and therefore he finds inner peace.
ReplyDeleteThe Seperate Peace that Gene gains in his life comes at a serious price. Throughout the novel Gene has a deep jealousy towards Finny that eventually turns into an evil side of himself that he has no control over. Gene's intense desire to have all the characteristics that Finny posesses overshadows his view of everything in his life, including relationships, self-control, and even his morality. In order to gain his seperate peace Finny has to eliminate his best freind who has quickly gone from being a friend to an opponent. In Gene's jaded view of relationships he begins to become paranoid of everything and everyone around him because he sees how his jealousy is quickly tearing his life apart. Gene doesn't want to continue down this road, but at the same time he does wnat to because he has to win this game that his life has become. When Finny returns to the Devon school after everything has conspired he is finally at peace, and free from himself.
ReplyDelete-Jonathan Rogers