Phineas' as an unrealistic character in A Seperate Peace by John Knowles.

…

… the author tried to get across to the reader would become lost, or not be as strongly shown, such as that of Phineas' rebirth in Gene. With no such strong and idealistic characterization, such a rebirth would have been less noticeable and the theme involving the way in which we deal with our selves and our enemies would have also been completely lost; the book would have become a boring read- it needed Phineas.