A separate Peace: Of Friendship, War, and Peace

1. 
   Friendship from Finny’s perspective
   

Differences—He’s now grooming Gene for what he can’t do. Training for the Olympics (117); afraid to reconnect (109).

Why does he not believe in war? Doesn’t want Gene to leave, so he convinces Gene there is no war.

--Denial—he can no longer be in the war, so he denies it.

--Finny still needs Gene “he needed me” (108).

--Convinces Gene not to enlist in the war.

2. 
   Friendship from Gene’s perspective
   

Hold on Gene’s life—(117) training for Olympics—tells doesn’t ask; stops him from enlisting; (108) Gene realizes he’s the bigger person

Finny’s injury forces Gene to find his own rhythm.

3. 
   Gene’s reaction to visiting Leper
   

Gene’s trip to Leper’s is exactly what his experience in the army turns out to be—nightmare wandering (138).

Gene reacts defensively with Leper’s story because of fear of mental health (151).

He refuses to listen so he runs from fear

How does Leper’s story reflect Gene in some way?

4. 
   War from Leper’s perspective
   

He wants to be different—marches to the beat of his own drum. He was the first recruit from Devon

He doesn’t interact with other people he’s always by himself.

Gene was not surprised by Leper’s enlistment

Leper doesn’t take command well—he does his own thing so

Gene is Leper’s “Best friend” because Gene talks to Leper

Gene and Leper need each other in a way

5. 
   War from the perspective of young men at Devon
   

Leper’s views—Gene no longer wants to go to war; Leper no longer wants to be in the war. His view changes after being in the war.

Leper is the reality of war

Finny’s conspiracy theory—jokester;

6. 
   Peace from the perspective of young men at Devon