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** At one point, Gene and Finny have an uneasy, fragmented discussion about Finny's [[spoiler:broken leg]]. Gene anxiously reminds Finny to be careful lest he [[spoiler:break it again]], to which Finny replies that he is very careful and [[spoiler:his leg is starting to feel even stronger than before it was broken]]. Gene supports this idea almost desperately. This conversation is generally seen as Gene expressing his fear that he has destroyed their relationship and Finny refusing to acknowledge the past so their relationship will stay as it was.
--->'''Gene:''' Christ, don't [[spoiler:break it]] again!
--->'''Finny:''' No, of course I won't [[spoiler:break it]] again. Isn't [[spoiler:the bone supposed to be stronger when it grows together over a place where it's been broken once]]?
--->'''Gene:''' Yes, I think it is.
--->'''Finny:''' I think so too. In fact I think I can feel it getting stronger.
--->'''Gene:''' Thank God.
--->'''Finny:''' What?
--->'''Gene:''' I said that's good.
--->'''Gene:''' Christ, don't [[spoiler:break it]] again!
--->'''Finny:''' No, of course I won't [[spoiler:break it]] again. Isn't [[spoiler:the bone supposed to be stronger when it grows together over a place where it's been broken once]]?
--->'''Gene:''' Yes, I think it is.
--->'''Finny:''' I think so too. In fact I think I can feel it getting stronger.
--->'''Gene:''' Thank God.
--->'''Finny:''' What?
--->'''Gene:''' I said that's good.
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* {{Subtext}}: The [[HomoeroticSubtext homoerotic]] [[HoYay bits]] are infamous, but other than that, the entire book is full of this. Some especially notable instances include Gene and Finny having outwardly mundane conversations that are clearly concerning something deeper underneath (usually their relationship).
** In one exchange, Finny repeatedly insists to Gene that he loves winter and therefore winter loves him back. During this, Gene privately muses to himself about all the ways winter is treacherous to a crippled person such as Finny. After Finny expresses his idea that anything you love automatically loves you back, Gene comments inwardly that though this ''should'' be true, it very much is not. This conversation is often viewed as Gene and Finny indirectly discussing the flaws in their relationship and their differing perspectives on the world, with "winter" representing Gene himself.
--->'''Finny (for the fourth time):''' I ''like'' winter.
--->'''Gene:''' Well, it doesn't like you.
--->'''Finny:''' The winter loves me. I mean as much as you can say a season can love. What I mean is, I love winter, and [[WideEyedIdealist when you really love something, then it loves you back, in whatever way it has to love.]]
** In one exchange, Finny repeatedly insists to Gene that he loves winter and therefore winter loves him back. During this, Gene privately muses to himself about all the ways winter is treacherous to a crippled person such as Finny. After Finny expresses his idea that anything you love automatically loves you back, Gene comments inwardly that though this ''should'' be true, it very much is not. This conversation is often viewed as Gene and Finny indirectly discussing the flaws in their relationship and their differing perspectives on the world, with "winter" representing Gene himself.
--->'''Finny (for the fourth time):''' I ''like'' winter.
--->'''Gene:''' Well, it doesn't like you.
--->'''Finny:''' The winter loves me. I mean as much as you can say a season can love. What I mean is, I love winter, and [[WideEyedIdealist when you really love something, then it loves you back, in whatever way it has to love.]]
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* HomoeroticSubtext: Everywhere in the book, so blatant that the book has been banned from some libraries...but it's still ''just'' subtle enough for PlausibleDeniability. Most of this stems from Gene's [[AmbiguouslyGay incredibly detailed descriptions of other guys' bodies in his narration]] and his relationship with Finny, in which the two boys sometimes seem a little too fixated on each other to just be HeterosexualLifePartners.
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* HomoeroticSubtext: Everywhere in the book, so blatant that the book has been banned from some libraries...but it's still ''just'' subtle enough for PlausibleDeniability. Most of this stems from Gene's [[AmbiguouslyGay incredibly detailed descriptions of other guys' bodies in his narration]] Gene and his relationship with Finny, in Finny's friendship, which the two boys sometimes seem a little too fixated on each other to just be HeterosexualLifePartners.is unusually intimate and [[DestructiveRomance dangerously codependent]].
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* MinimalistCast: Gene, Finny, Brinker, and Leper are basically the only characters in the entire book. There are a few others who are only mentioned in passing and literally do nothing.
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* MinimalistCast: Gene, Finny, Brinker, and Leper are basically the only characters in the entire book. There are a few others who are only mentioned in passing and literally do nothing.nothing noteworthy.
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* SelectiveObliviousness: After Gene [[spoiler:knocks Finny out of the tree]] and the latter doesn't seem to understand what happened, Gene attempts to actually confess what he's done. [[spoiler:And Finny ''refuses'' to accept it, writing Gene's claims off as him being "crazy" and conveniently denying it until he's literally ''forced'' to accept it at the end of the book.]]
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* SelectiveObliviousness: After Gene [[spoiler:knocks Finny out of the tree]] and the latter doesn't seem to understand what happened, Gene attempts to actually confess what he's done. [[spoiler:And Finny ''refuses'' to accept it, writing Gene's claims off as him being "crazy" and conveniently denying it until he's literally ''forced'' to accept it at the end of the book.]]
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* TheNotLoveInterest: Finny to Gene. Finny is the center of Gene's universe, and Gene adores, obsesses over, and--at times--practically worships him. However, their role in the book is that of best friends.
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* TheNotLoveInterest: Finny to Gene. Finny is the center of Gene's universe, and Gene adores, obsesses over, and--at times--practically and at times practically worships him. However, their [[HomoeroticSubtext (explicitly stated)]] role in the book is that of best friends.
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** In the short story, the names of Leper and Bobby Zane are switched.
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* TheRoaringTwenties: Finny actually refers to the 1920s as this word for word.
-->'''Finny:''' Listen, did you ever hear of the [[TheRoaringTwenties 'Roaring Twenties'?]] When they all drank bathtub gin and everybody who was young did just what they wanted?
-->'''Finny:''' Listen, did you ever hear of the [[TheRoaringTwenties 'Roaring Twenties'?]] When they all drank bathtub gin and everybody who was young did just what they wanted?
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* BigFancyHouse: Finny's house is a bit of an odd example: Though large, it's only really extravagant in the front, and it becomes less and less intricate. By the time you get to the back of the house, it basically looks like a nice barn.
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* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The book and its prototype version, a short story called ''Phineas'', have quite a few notable differences. One such difference is that the incident with the tree isn't nearly ambiguous, and Gene as much as says multiple times that he [[spoiler:knocked Finny out of it on purpose]].
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* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The book and its prototype version, a short story called ''Phineas'', have quite a few notable differences. One such difference is that the incident with the tree isn't nearly as ambiguous, and Gene as much as says multiple times that he [[spoiler:knocked Finny out of it on purpose]].
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[[UnreliableNarrator Gene]] [[BrokenAce Forrester,]] a student at the [[BoardingSchool Devon School]], becomes jealous of his [[BigManOnCampus popular]] and [[LovableJock athletic]] best friend [[BlitheSpirit Phineas.]] His paranoia brings him to believe that Finny is secretly envious of his academic prowess and is attempting to sabotage his streak of good grades, as this would justify his own resentment. This leads Gene to commit an act of violence that has [[TragicBromance tragic consequences for both him and Finny.]]
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[[UnreliableNarrator Gene]] [[BrokenAce Forrester,]] Forrester]], a student at the [[BoardingSchool Devon School]], becomes jealous of his [[BigManOnCampus popular]] and [[LovableJock athletic]] best friend [[BlitheSpirit Phineas.]] His paranoia brings him to believe that Finny is secretly envious of his academic prowess and is attempting to sabotage his streak of good grades, as this would justify his own resentment. This leads Gene to commit an act of violence that has [[TragicBromance tragic consequences for both him and Finny.]]
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* DeathByNewberryMedal: [[spoiler:During Gene's ComingOfAgeStory, his best friend Finny dies during surgery.]]
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* DeathByNewberryMedal: DeathByNewberyMedal: [[spoiler:During Gene's ComingOfAgeStory, his best friend Finny dies during surgery.]]
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* AffectionateGestureToTheHead: Finny gives one to Gene after they finish [[HomoeroticSubtext wrestling in the grass.]]
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* TheGhost: Gene's (presumably older) brother, who gave him an army fatigue shirt he wears at one point during the story.
** Finny's (presumably younger) sister may also be an example, assuming she actually exists. She's only ever mentioned when Gene jokes to a group of boys about doing increasingly outrageous things to ruin Finny's life, [[MySisterIsOffLimits including sleep with his sister.]]
** Finny's (presumably younger) sister may also be an example, assuming she actually exists. She's only ever mentioned when Gene jokes to a group of boys about doing increasingly outrageous things to ruin Finny's life, [[MySisterIsOffLimits including sleep with his sister.]]
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** Gene's overall characterization is surprisingly different. In the book it's understood his actions come from extreme insecurity, repression, and emotional confusion regarding whether he envies or admires Finny. In the short story, it's much harder to sympathize with him, as he's a passive-aggressive {{Jerkass}} who never really liked Finny in the first place. Gene in the short story is just generally more closed-minded and traditional, the secret desire to rebel that nags at him in the book completely absent. Because Gene's love-hate relationship with Finny lacks the "love" part in the short story, the much-discussed HomoeroticSubtext of their relationship is also absent.
** Finny's characterization is pretty different too. In the book he comes off as unusually caring and charismatic, whereas in the short story he comes off more clingy and annoying. Upon meeting Gene, Finny pretty much orders him to be his friend, then forces him to listen to a full-blown rant about his beliefs. Seemingly in line with Finny being more irritating in this version, the short story doesn't portray Finny as a BigManOnCampus so much as a strange, wild boy everyone tolerates because they don't know how to handle him.
** The prose of the short story is itself different from the book. The short story is significantly more straightforward, almost entirely lacking the vivid, detailed imagery of the book.
** The short story is also ''a lot'' more direct about Gene and Finny's views on religion and sex, two topics the book pretty much never discusses. Finny says he is spiritual but not religious, believing you have to discover God for yourself. Amusingly, Finny then says he thinks [[TheHedonist sex is more important than God,]] and proceeds to describe--apparently in detail--the three times he's slept with girls. Just as amusingly, Gene is scandalized by everything Finny says. It's implied here that Gene is religious and sees sex for pleasure as a sin, or at least something to be ashamed of.
** Finny's characterization is pretty different too. In the book he comes off as unusually caring and charismatic, whereas in the short story he comes off more clingy and annoying. Upon meeting Gene, Finny pretty much orders him to be his friend, then forces him to listen to a full-blown rant about his beliefs. Seemingly in line with Finny being more irritating in this version, the short story doesn't portray Finny as a BigManOnCampus so much as a strange, wild boy everyone tolerates because they don't know how to handle him.
** The prose of the short story is itself different from the book. The short story is significantly more straightforward, almost entirely lacking the vivid, detailed imagery of the book.
** The short story is also ''a lot'' more direct about Gene and Finny's views on religion and sex, two topics the book pretty much never discusses. Finny says he is spiritual but not religious, believing you have to discover God for yourself. Amusingly, Finny then says he thinks [[TheHedonist sex is more important than God,]] and proceeds to describe--apparently in detail--the three times he's slept with girls. Just as amusingly, Gene is scandalized by everything Finny says. It's implied here that Gene is religious and sees sex for pleasure as a sin, or at least something to be ashamed of.
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* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The book and its prototype version, a short story called ''Phineas'', have quite a few notable differences. One such difference is that the incident with the tree isn't nearly ambiguous, and Gene as much as says multiple times that he [[spoiler:knocked Finny out of it on purpose]].
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* IJustWantToBeYou: Part of Gene's ''very'' complicated feelings about Finny, who is more athletic, popular, and confident than him.
-->''I lost part of myself to him then, and a soaring sense of freedom revealed that this must have been my purpose from the first: to become a part of Phineas.''
-->''I lost part of myself to him then, and a soaring sense of freedom revealed that this must have been my purpose from the first: to become a part of Phineas.''
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* IJustWantToBeYou: Part of Gene's ''very'' complicated feelings about Finny, who is more athletic, popular, and confident than him.
-->''I lost part of myself to him then, and a soaring sense of freedom revealed that this must have been my purpose from the first: to become a part of Phineas.''
-->''I lost part of myself to him then, and a soaring sense of freedom revealed that this must have been my purpose from the first: to become a part of Phineas.''
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* SeriousBusiness: Sports for Finny, and school for Gene.
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* SelfDeprecation: All of Gene's narration is laced with it, highlighting his severe insecurity with his identity.
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* SelfDeprecation: All of Gene's narration is laced with it, highlighting his severe insecurity with his identity.insecurity.
* SeriousBusiness: Sports for Finny, and school for Gene.
* SeriousBusiness: Sports for Finny, and school for Gene.
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* BaitAndSwitchComment: After Finny suggests they go to the beach, Gene lists all the reasons why he should refuse--it's against the rules, it's hours away, he won't get to study for an upcoming test, he doesn't like riding his bike for long periods of time, it will mess up the general order of his life--and then agrees to go with nothing more than a simple, "All right."
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* BaitAndSwitchComment: After Finny suggests they go to the beach, Gene mentally lists all the reasons why he should refuse--it's against the rules, it's hours away, he won't get to study for an upcoming test, he doesn't like riding his bike for long periods of time, it will mess up the general order of his life--and then agrees life. Right when the reader thinks he'll tell Finny he doesn't want to go with nothing more than a simple, go, he simply says, "All right." "
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* BaitAndSwitchComment: After Finny suggests they go to the beach, Gene lists all the reasons why he should refuse--it's against the rules, it's hours away, he won't get to study for an upcoming test, he doesn't like riding his bike for long periods of time, it will mess up the general order of his life--and then agrees to go with nothing more than a simple, "All right."
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** And a subtler one: [[LovingAShadow Make sure you see someone for who they really are, not just your idea of them. Idealization never ends well.]] And on that note, [[IJustWantToBeYou don't construct your entire identity]] [[LivingEmotionalCrutch on one person.]]
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** And a A subtler one: [[LovingAShadow Make sure you see someone for who they really are, not just your idea of them. Idealization never ends well.]] And on that note, [[IJustWantToBeYou don't construct your entire identity]] [[LivingEmotionalCrutch on one person.]]
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** And a subtler one: [[LovingAShadow Make sure you see someone for who they really are, not just your idea of them. Idealization never ends well.]] And on that note, [[IJustWantToBeYou don't construct your entire identity]] [[LivingEmotionalCrutch on one person.]]
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* OddFriendship: Gene and Finny have one of these. You would expect their personalities to clash, as the former is cynical, serious, and rule-abiding, while the latter is idealistic, cheerful, and disregards rules like nobody's business. However, OppositesAttract, and they're best friends.
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* OddFriendship: Gene and Finny have one of these. You would expect their personalities to clash, as the former is cynical, serious, and OddCouple: The relationship between studious, rule-abiding, while anxious [[BrokenAce Gene]] and athletic, rebellious, free-spirited [[BlitheSpirit Finny]] is the latter is idealistic, cheerful, center of the book. One would expect them to fight all the time over their differing beliefs and disregards rules like nobody's business. However, attitudes toward life, but OppositesAttract, and they're best friends.friends. As it turns out, when things do [[spoiler:go bad]] in their friendship, it has less to do with Gene getting annoyed with their differences than Gene [[spoiler:[[IJustWantToBeYou wanting to be like Finny]]]].
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* AwfulTruth: Zig-zagged. Originally, Gene's conscience won't let him keep [[spoiler:crippling Finny]] to himself, and he outright confesses. However, Finny [[spoiler:refuses to believe him]]. This causes Gene to realize Finny can't handle the truth, and both of them try to pretend nothing happened for most of the book until the end.
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* AwfulTruth: Zig-zagged. [[DoubleSubversion Doubly subverted.]] Originally, Gene's conscience won't let him keep [[spoiler:crippling Finny]] to himself, and he outright confesses. However, Finny [[spoiler:refuses to believe him]]. This causes Gene to realize Finny can't handle the truth, and both of them try to pretend nothing happened for most of the book until the end.
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* AwfulTruth: Zig-zagged. Originally, Gene's conscience won't let him keep [[spoiler:crippling Finny]] to himself, and he outright confesses. However, Finny [[spoiler:refuses to believe him]]. This causes Gene to realize Finny can't handle the truth, and both of them try to pretend nothing happened for most of the book until the end.
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* RiddleForTheAges: Regarding Gene and Finny, we know absolutely nothing about their family lives or anything they did before attending the Devon School. Strangely enough, we do get some vague details about the family lives of Brinker and Leper, who are not nearly as important to the story as Gene and Finny.
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* SelfDeprecation: All of Gene's narration is laced with it, highlighting his severe insecurity with his identity.
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Gene Forrester, a student at the [[BoardingSchool Devon School]], becomes jealous of his popular and athletic best friend Phineas. His paranoia leads him to believe that Finny is secretly envious of his academic prowess and is attempting to sabotage his streak of good grades, as this would justify his own resentment. This leads Gene to commit an act of violence that has tragic consequences for both him and Finny.
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Gene Forrester, a student at the [[BoardingSchool Devon School]], becomes jealous of his popular and athletic best friend Phineas, often called Finny. Paranoid, Gene convinces himself that his resentment is justified because Finny is jealous of his superior academic prowess and is actively attempting to sabotage his streak of good grades. This causes Gene to make a decision that destroys Finny's future and has tragic consequences for both him and Finny.
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Gene Forrester, a student at the [[BoardingSchool Devon School]], becomes jealous of his popular and athletic best friend Phineas, often called Finny. Paranoid, Gene convinces himself Phineas. His paranoia leads him to believe that his resentment is justified because Finny is jealous secretly envious of his superior academic prowess and is actively attempting to sabotage his streak of good grades. grades, as this would justify his own resentment. This causes leads Gene to make a decision commit an act of violence that destroys Finny's future and has tragic consequences for both him and Finny.
Finny.
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I never really noticed this before, but the person who created this page stated the book symbolized "Cold War paranoia." Considering the book is about a time period when World War II was still happening and John Knowles has never once mentioned the Cold War in relation to the book, I highly doubt this. I do see the troper's point, though.
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''A Separate Peace'' is a 1959 coming-of-age novel by John Knowles symbolizing UsefulNotes/ColdWar paranoia during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. The events of the book take place from the summer of 1942 to the late winter of 1943.
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''A Separate Peace'' is a 1959 coming-of-age novel by John Knowles symbolizing UsefulNotes/ColdWar paranoia during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII.Knowles. The events of the book take place from the summer of 1942 to the late winter of 1943.
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* TheBGrade: Gene, who is generally a straight-A student, is not happy that he got a B in one class the previous semester. This is one of the things that makes him start to be irritated with Finny, as he believes he got a B because Finny was constantly distracting him.
