Phineas vs. Gene

An analysis of the rivalry of Phineas and Gene. From the novel, A Separate Peace by John Knowles. Phineas’ world was a very beautiful thing to him. A world where war was a work of art, painted so perfectly in his mind. He was full of views and ideas that were perfect in subject, but realistically unachievable. Gene was a Smart, intelligent boy. Every thing was completely real to him. School was very important. When …

…a fiction. I don’t believe that two clashing personalities can exist in one place with out conflict, internal or external. Phineas had a hold over Gene. He grasped Gene’s envy tightly in his had without knowing it. He was able to perhaps change Gene in ways Gene didn’t want. Expose him to his idealistic thoughts. Perhaps broaden Gene’s mind a bit. Gene had an uncontainable hatred for Finny because of it.