We use fantasy to cope in many ways. We escape from reality in books, movies, and in our dreams. However, when we allow those fantasies to take more control--break into our reality-- and mask the events that we should be coping with; it becomes almost detrimental to our perception of reality itself. We begin to believe more in our imagination than reality. When that bubble of fantasy is popped, so is the peace that it had brought you in the situation. In A Separate Peace we see the use of fantasy around every corner and, eventually, it takes precedence over reality in multiple characters’ lives. The use of fantasy to cope with reality causes harm to the characters in A Separate Peace by John Knowles. Phineas (Finny) is essentially fueled by fantasy in every-day life. His imagination is broad and always in overdrive. To start, he creates a game called “Blitzball” with entirely his own rules which is fitting since A Separate Peace takes place during World War II. Finny takes some of his school friends to a tree that is located next to the river, its branches extending over the river. He then opts to climb up the tree and jump into the river. He influences the main character, Gene, to engage as well. Finny then explores the fantasy of a brotherhood by creating the “Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session”. The author expands on it in the book by saying, “Schools are supposed to …show more content…
It drives characters to act in all of the main plot events and creates the reflective tone throughout the story. The hyperactive imaginations and fantasies make the book fun, but also sad at times when that bubble is popped by reality. Finny and Gene were definitely impacted greatly because of the fantasies possessed their minds. In many ways both Gene and Finny have mental and physical implications from their fantasies.Overall, that impact is proven negative when the characters in A Separate Peace are faced with