Novel Project Blog 4 (A Separate Peace)

17.your opinion of the work, good or bad, supported by specific references from the work

 

A Separate Peace by John Knowles was not a very good piece of literature to read for enjoyment rather than necessity. The author used unique characters however, there was not enough detail and depth put into each ones actions and ways of thinking. Even the main character Gene did not successfully portray his feelings to the readers through thinking to himself. One had no clue as to why Gene truly felt the need to push his friend Finny from the tree or if he was genuinely sorry for what he had done or if guilt just so happen to take over. The meaning of the work as a whole was not very specific and could leave one wondering what the purpose of the book truly was. The author did have good intentions and a well thought out plot, however there was not enough detail of importance, rather than rambling of things that did not truly matter to the story as a whole. The death of Finny was not much of a surprise and did not connect well with the reader‘s emotions due to the shortness of discussion in it throughout the rest of the book. The ending just so happen to be unpleasing also by not truly stating weather it was a happy or sad ending. The tone was plain and once again, there was not enough important details listed for the reader’s knowledge.  The work could also be very confusing to the back and forth analysis Gene makes to himself about pushing Finny and basically sending him to his death. For instance in the final few paragraphs, the author goes from saying “I never killed anybody and I never developed an intense level of hatred for the enemy. Because my war ended before I ever put on a uniform; I was on active duty all my time at school; I killed my enemy there.” In the following sentence one could not tell if Gene felt remorse or that he had to push Finny for his own needs. The reason will forever be unknown.