Character Analysis Of Jealousy In John Knowles 'A Separate Peace'

The Destruction Caused by Jealousy

Jealousy and impulsiveness can lead good people to do bad things. Jealousy is defined as the state of feeling or showing envy of someone or their achievements and advantages and impulsiveness is defined as a tendency to act on a whim, displaying behavior characterized by little or no forethought, reflection, or consideration of the consequences. The combination of these two vices can lead to the destruction of not only friendships but of life itself. In John Knowles’ A Separate Peace Gene and Brinker acted impulsively and did foolish things that led to and caused Finny’s death. Gene and Brinker were so self absorbed that they did not contemplate the consequences of their actions. They were oblivious

Gene, Brinker, and Dr. Stanpole we’re responsible for Finny’s death; however, Gene is ultimately responsible for the loss of Finny’s life because Gene’s impulsive decisions began the cycle that led to Finny’s death.

Gene’s insecurities and clandestine jealousy propelled him to hurt Finny. Gene was jealous of Finny’s extraordinary athletic ability and felt that he needed to be a better student than Finny as compensation for his sub par athletic ability. Gene convinced himself that both him and Finny were competing with each other; however, Finny was oblivious to Gene’s jealousy and was continuously supportive of Gene throughout the book. In Gene’s words, “We were even after all, even in enmity. The deadly rivalry was on both sides after all.”(Knowles 84). It is evident that Gene felt very strongly that his jealousy was reciprocated. Gene convinced himself that Finny created the Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session as a way to distract Finny so that he would not get good grades. Gene said, “Then a second realization broke as clearly and bleakly as dawn at the beach. Finny had deliberately set out to wreck my studies. That explained blitzball, that explained the nightly meetings

Gene could not cope with his jealousy. He was so insecure of himself and jealous of Finny and he dealt with it poorly. Jealousy and insecurities are a part of every teens life. The survival of ones innocence, friendship and even life may depend on ones ability to cope with those insecurities and jealousy. This novel shows that not everyone can cope with insecurities especially with extra pressures such as the war. If it were not for Gene’s uncontrollable jealousy Finny would not have died such an untimely death. Finny’s death was made certain the day that Gene lost control of his jealousy and jounced the tree limb. A Separate Peace is a tragic story of the consequences of uncontrolled insecurities and jealousy. As Carlos Wallace said, “Insecurity breeds jealousy, jealousy creates envy, and envy causes self-destruction.” Don’t let insecurities lead to your own self