What is inhumanity? The definition of inhumanity is the lack of pity or compassion; a cruel act. In the novel, A Separate Peace, there are many inhumane actions displayed. The main character, Gene creates a vengeance against his good friend Finny; thus escalating into much hostility and competitiveness between the two boys. It is revealed that Gene is the one who creates all of this bad energy because he also has confrontations with three other students, Cliff Quackenbush, Brinker Hadley, and Leper Lepellier. The backdrop of the story is World War II, where many inhuman actions are being executed. There is also cruelness shown not only through people, but even through nature.

Gene Forrester is a student at a private school, Devon, and he shares a room with another boy named Finny. These two boys become very good friends, but Gene begins to look at his friend in...