The saying "a separate peace" refers to an individual's attempt to find personal tranquility amidst the chaos of a larger conflict. In A Separate Peace, Gene's separate peace involves self-acceptance following Finny's death, paralleling Hemingway's characters who seek personal escape from the ravages of war. Ultimately, Gene's journey is about overcoming internal battles and finding inner peace.

After Finny's accident, Gene struggles with guilt and jealousy. He attempts to manage his friendship by letting Finny train him in sports, hoping to fulfill Finny's Olympic dreams and alleviate his own guilt. Gene also tries to confess his involvement in the accident, but Finny's disbelief forces Gene to lie about his role. Despite these efforts, their friendship suffers, culminating in a mock trial that fails to resolve their issues.

In "A Separate Peace," Finny and Gene reach an understanding about the tree incident where Gene "jounced" the limb, causing Finny's fall. Initially, Gene struggles to confess, but Finny eventually accepts that Gene's actions were not out of malice but rather a moment of "blind ignorance." Despite the underlying feelings of envy and anger, both characters come to terms with the incident as part of their complex relationship and adolescence.

The term "suicide" in the "Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session" is appropriate as it foreshadows the tragic consequences of Finny's fall from the tree, which ultimately leads to his death. The society's reckless activities symbolize a loss of innocence and the metaphorical "death" of both Finny and Gene's youthful identities. Although not intended literally, the term captures the destructive impact of their actions on their lives and futures.

After the beach trip, Gene suspects Finny of trying to sabotage his academic success by distracting him, especially after failing a trigonometry test. He believes Finny's insistence on fun activities stems from jealousy and competitiveness. However, when Finny expresses surprise at Gene's need to study, Gene realizes he misjudged Finny's intentions. This realization leaves Gene feeling guilty and resentful, struggling with feelings of inadequacy compared to Finny's genuine nature.

Leper's theory of evolution in A Separate Peace is about survival of the fittest, applied to how individuals cope with the challenges of war. Leper, socially awkward and fragile, fails to adapt to military life, while Gene, despite his inner turmoil, possesses the mental and emotional resilience needed to survive. Gene's ability to navigate both school and war contrasts with Leper's breakdown and Finny's inability to handle cruelty, highlighting Gene's "evolution."

The narrator, Gene, feels a mix of nostalgia and darkness upon returning to Devon, reflecting on both joyful and tragic memories. His return is driven by a need to confront his past, especially the guilt over Finney's death, and to atone for it. He visits significant locations related to this tragedy, suggesting he seeks closure or forgiveness. This return raises questions about Gene's personal growth and responsibility for his past actions.

The novel A Separate Peace is about Gene Forrester, who attends a prep school in New Hampshire called Devon. He has a friend and roommate named Phineas (Finny), who is better at athletics and more popular than Gene. One day while they are walking to the Devon Boathouse, Finny lets out a string of insults towards Gene that ultimately push him to push Finny off the tree branch he was sitting on and into the lake below. Finny injures his spine and is paralyzed from the waist down, leaving him bedridden for several months. Later on, Finny finally returns back to school, but isn't as healthy as he once was prior to the accident.

Gene hides his emotions from Phineas due to insecurity and distrust stemming from the competitive nature of their friendship. Intimidated by Phineas's charisma and athleticism, Gene projects his insecurities onto their relationship, leading him to withhold his feelings. He does not recognize the importance of their friendship until later events force him to confront his emotions, ultimately achieving forgiveness and clarity by the novel's end.

Gene's transformation in "A Separate Peace" illustrates that he is his own worst enemy through his internal conflicts and realizations. Initially, Gene's jealousy and insecurity lead him to harm Finny, revealing his inner turmoil. Over time, he understands that his actions stem from fear and ignorance within himself, akin to the causes of war. By the novel's end, Gene acknowledges that his real enemy was within, and he achieves peace by confronting this truth.