Essay | Gene Forrester, from "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles

Gene Forrester is an ordinary American Citizen faced with the turmoil of the 1940's. During this time, his enrolment at Devon school for boys alters his life entirely. Throughout his four-year attendance, his demeanor evolves, gradually molding his manner into a different and more complex structure.

Phineas is the foundation of Gene's stay at Devon. He, along with his emotional and physical status, largely affects the changes that Gene experiences. In the early summer of 1942, Gene was already being coaxed by Phineas to abandon his instincts and behave out of his norm. "At that time it would never have occurred to me to say, "I don't feel like it [jumping] tonight," which was the plain truth every night (25)." At first, Gene gives into the challenge proposed by Phineas to jump from the tree as an effort to gain acceptance from him. However,...
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