Character Analysis: A Separate Peace By John Knowles

Forgiving and trying to relieve each other’s guilt is friendship. Recognizing an accident due to paranoia is also part of friendship. You might be scared to tell your friend the truth, but your best friend should always forgive you. In the novel A Separate Peace by John Knowles, we see a strong friendship weaken due to one accident. Gene should have confessed to Finny about his involvement in the jouncing on the tree branch. He should have done this because the guilt would have practically killed Gene and they’re best friends, so Gene should be able to tell Finny absolutely everything. Gene should have told Finny about his jouncing on the limb because if he didn’t Gene would feel guiltier. After the accident, Gene goes back to their room

Well that’s what Gene did, and that’s what he should have done because they are best friends. We know they’re best friends based on what Finny says, “’I know I kind of dragged you away at the point of a gun, but after all you can’t come by yourself, and at this teen-age period in life the proper person is your best pal…which is what you are’” (40). This is said at the beach, Finny kind of dragged him but he just wanted to be with his best friend. It is our duty as best friends to be honest because our friendship will just crumble in the end if we don’t. Finny also saved Gene from falling out of the tree earlier in the novel, “…and then I realized that in turning I had begun to lose my balance. There was a moment of total, impersonal panic, and then Finny’s hand shot out and grabbed my arm, and with my balance restored, the panic immediately disappeared” (24). Finny could have easily lost his balance as well and could have caused them both to fall. If Finny is willing to risk his own life for Gene, he should be able to handle the truth behind the tree accident. Finny should be aware about the truth because best friends are always supposed to tell each other everything, no matter how hurtful it may be. One might say, Gene should not have told Finny because then they could lose their friendship. However, losing a friendship is easier than losing your mind from guilt and if Finny were really his true friend he would find a way to forgive Gene. Gene should have told Finny to prevent his guilt from eating him alive. Also, friends should be able to tell each other absolutely everything without fear. In true friendships, you should tell each other everything. They will forgive you, no matter what, that’s what makes it