"A Seperate Peace" by John Knowles.

Character Analysis Gene Forrester is the novel's narrator who, while reminiscing back, tells briefly about some of his time at Devon School and about his best friend Phineas. Gene is about five feet eight inches tall and isn't exactly into sports. After meeting and befriending Finny he is driven somewhat by jealousy, to start competing in sports (mainly to beat Finny). Gene is young man who is very intelligent he is a very hard worker, …

…his protégé. Finny doesn't like to follow the rules at Devon, however, his smooth talking and talent for charming adults keeps him out of trouble. Finny is considered to be the "perfect young man" and even forgives Gene for what he has done to ruin Finny's life right before he dies. Finny and Gene are two very different people, just about complete opposites but, they still remain friends despite Gene's jealousy and Finny's "accident".