Theme Of Rivalry In A Separate Peace

In the fictional novel A Separate Peace by John Knowels, the reoccurring message sent to the reader is the relationship of conflict and resolution. He uses the characters in his novel to take his message even further by giving example of how rivalry has its consequences, don’t incriminate someone when it will only cause destruction between both parties and to be honest with the truth so it doesn’t come back and hurt you. In A Separate Peace Knowles continuously shows rivalry as always having a consequence good or bad. In the novel Phineas, Gene’s best friend, is seen to the reader as a star athlete in, what seems to be, every sport he tries. He is able to do this because he sees every school record as a challenge that the person holding the record is his rival and must be beaten. Finny’s desire to be star athlete and defeat all rivals to his determination is best shown on page 42 “’You mean that record has been up there the whole time and nobody’s busted it yet?’ It was an insult to the class, and Finny had tremendous loyalty to the class.” Now Finny isn’t the only person who experiences a large sense of rivalry. Gene feels rivalry towards Chet Douglass, the only

All three of these themes come together to make the message of conflict and resolution to the reader. The novel wasn’t the greatest novel to read. The author had many things and subjects going around with sudden plot twists, which complicated the story and confused the reader. Although the author does an excellent job of sending the message that all conflict has a resolution that will solve the conflict you just have to find which way works for you, telling the truth, not incriminating someone unless it concerns you or rivalry is your rivalry good or bad? This theme come together and makes the reader take the message easier and is able to use it in every day