A Separate Peace Group

Question:

nickd15
nickd15
Student
High School - 10th Grade

The adult Gene explains the rationale for his "rivalry" with Finny. Do you think Knowles means for the reader to question Gene's analysis? Why?

Comment on this in terms of characterization.

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Posted by nickd15 on Wednesday February 18, 2009 at 12:56 PM and tagged with characters, finny, gene.

Answers:

  1. speamerfam
    speamerfam Teacher
    Community / Jr. College

    eNotes Editor

    Gene is what we call an unreliable narrator. While he is somewhat accurate in his narration of events, he is extremely unreliable in his explanation of those events and his analysis of his own thoughts and feelings.  This is because Gene is driven by guilt.  He cannot allow himself to really know that his feelings and actions led to Finney's death.  Knowles intends for us to be aware of this throughout the entire book, by showing us Gene's character as he does.  Gene is clearly not an admirable character.  He is a follower, he envies his "friend," and he is cowardly in  physical and moral sense. 

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/separate

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    Posted by speamerfam on Monday August 24, 2009 at 5:18 PM