Critical Thinking Question Answers - Jason de Castro

While authors that choose World War 2 as the setting of a story usually write about the war itself or how the war affected someone directly, John Knowles sets A Separate Peace in this time frame but barely shows any direct or relevant connection between the characters and the war. What is he trying to accomplish by doing so?

By setting the story into the time of World War 2, while barely connecting it to any of the characters directly, the author is sending a message. Throughout the book the characters are in a constant struggle, even though they are not in the war. It is almost as if the characters are having their own personal war going on, not only between each other but inside themselves as well. "my war ended before I even put on a uniform; I was on active duty all my time at school; I killed my enemy there." (Knowles, 204) It is in this statement (Gene is speaking) that Gene implies that the true enemy wasn't anyone that he would meet on the battlefield as he went to war, but inside himself. John Knowles is trying to express that there is more to conflict than just war, and that less dramatic conflicts occur that can be equally if not more damaging to one's self as well as others. Internal conflict for example, is the one that Gene personally struggled with for the duration of his time spent at Devon Academy. Therefore, the ongoing war of World War 2 is set to contrast the conflict that the adolescents of Devon themselves struggled with.

When comparing Gene's one-sided envy dominating his relationship with Finny prior to the fall, in contrast to the codependency between them after the fall, which is the more dangerous of the two? (That is, what is most damaging or unhealthy in regards to relationships) and why?

In my opinion both types of relationships are equally dangerous; the only difference between the two is that the first one appears to be more malicious. Gene envied Finny for the longest time, and his jealousy overpowered and consumed him for a slight moment in which he impulsively pushed Finny out of the tree, ending his athletic career forever and crushing his spirit. Afterwards, the codependency began as Finny coped with the psychological pain of having his greatest dreams and goals in life abruptly ended by living through Gene. Gene on the other hand, was addicted to Finny's very presence. He was obsessed with Finny and Finny's personality, and lost himself in order to become more like his greatest idol. The reason they are both equally damaging, is because in both cases, although the intention varies slightly, the people involved lose themselves amidst the jealousy or codependency. Gene took for granted his own gifts and talents and the person he was when he decided he resented Finny for his unique talents. Finny on the other hand handed himself over to Gene, his desire and passion through the codependency that he and Gene shared. It was as if Finny had given on himself and needed to live through Gene to be content.