Gene Forrester's difficult journey toward maturity and the adult world is one of the main focuses in the novel, A Separate Peace, by John Knowles. Gene's journey into maturity begins the moment he jounces the limb of the tree. The process continues until he visits the tree, fifteen years later. Gene looks at things in the past. Gene must start to become self-aware, face reality and the future, confront his problems, as well as forgive and accept himself. He must become aware of and understand the person he is, and face the problems in his life. Only then, does Gene's blissful ignorance change to the mature understanding of the nature of evil inside himself.
This long and painful journey begins with this blissful ignorance behind the gates of Devon where Gene is preparing for war. Gene is isolated from the war. He does not yet see the importance of what the war is about and therefore is blinded from it. He begins the summer session, which is considered "wild and free". He......
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Approximate Word Count: 1280
Approximate Pages: 5 (260 words per double-spaced page) |