Loss Of Innocence In A Separate Peace
Loss of Innocence in A Separate Peace
One of John Knowles’ philosophies was that, “Loss of innocence is not only a necessary evil, but it is vital to spiritual growth, as the loss of the umbilical chord is to physical growth”. This, along with many of his other philosophies, can be seen through his writing. In A Separate Peace this can be seen in World War II, Devon, and Finny and Gene. First of all, A Separate Peace is set amidst the chaos of the time of World War II. The effects of the war can be seen throughout the story. Although the war was a terrible tragedy, it allowed for nationwide unity through patriotism. In addition, this tragedy, which forced the first peacetime draft in the United States’ history, instilled a sense of responsibility within the draft-bait. It was a necessary evil, which with its end brought the end of the Great Depression and forever changed the world. Second of all, this theme can be seen in the Devon school, based on Knowles’ own Philips Exeter Academy. When Finny breaks his leg, “The effect of [Finny’s] injury on the masters seemed deeper than after other disasters I remembered there. It was as though they felt it was especially unfair that it should strike one of the sixteen-year-olds, one of the few young men who could be free and happy in the summer of 1942.” (Knowles 61) To all the boys in the school a great irony comes from where, in the First Building, “Above us in Latin flowed the inscription, Here Boys Come to Be Made Men.”(Knowles 165) Overall, the events that occurred in the book within the school walls were tragic and unfair and caused a loss of innocence, but allowed the boys to truly be made men, an important part of their spiritual growth. Finally, the loss of innocence in A Separate Peace can also be seen in Finny and Gene. When Gene realizes that it was his jealousy that led to Finny’s fall that would change both of their lives forever, he losses all childhood innocence. After Finny’s death, when Gene is sent to
One of John Knowles’ philosophies was that, “Loss of innocence is not only a necessary evil, but it is vital to spiritual growth, as the loss of the umbilical chord is to physical growth”. This, along with many of his other philosophies, can be seen through his writing. In A Separate Peace this can be seen in World War II, Devon, and Finny and Gene. First of all, A Separate Peace is set amidst the chaos of the time of World War II. The effects of the war can be seen throughout the story. Although the war was a terrible tragedy, it allowed for nationwide unity through patriotism. In addition, this tragedy, which forced the first peacetime draft in the United States’ history, instilled a sense of responsibility within the draft-bait. It was a necessary evil, which with its end brought the end of the Great Depression and forever changed the world. Second of all, this theme can be seen in the Devon school, based on Knowles’ own Philips Exeter Academy. When Finny breaks his leg, “The effect of [Finny’s] injury on the masters seemed deeper than after other disasters I remembered there. It was as though they felt it was especially unfair that it should strike one of the sixteen-year-olds, one of the few young men who could be free and happy in the summer of 1942.” (Knowles 61) To all the boys in the school a great irony comes from where, in the First Building, “Above us in Latin flowed the inscription, Here Boys Come to Be Made Men.”(Knowles 165) Overall, the events that occurred in the book within the school walls were tragic and unfair and caused a loss of innocence, but allowed the boys to truly be made men, an important part of their spiritual growth. Finally, the loss of innocence in A Separate Peace can also be seen in Finny and Gene. When Gene realizes that it was his jealousy that led to Finny’s fall that would change both of their lives forever, he losses all childhood innocence. After Finny’s death, when Gene is sent to