A Separate Peace: Three Symbols :: essays research papers

A Separate Peace Three Symbols     The three dichotomous symbols in A Separate Peace by John Knowlesreinforce the innocence and evil of the main characters, Finny and Gene. Besidethe Devon School flow two rivers on face-to-face sides of the school, the Naguamsettand the Devon. The Devon provides entertainment and happiness for Gene andFinny as they jump from the tree into the river and hold initiations into theSuper self-destruction Society of the Summer Session. Finny, Gene, and their friends usethe Devons warm water to hightail it in during the carefree summer session. The Devonbrings by Finnys carefree character and personality when he jumps from thelimbs of the tree. Not one Upper Middler in Devon has ever jumped from thetree Finny becomes the first. afterward surfacing, Finny says that jumping fromthe tree causes the most fun he has had in weeks. However, the Naguamsett andthe Devon completely contrast. When Gene and Finny emerge from the Devon, theyfeel clean and refreshed. However, Gene describes the Naguamsett as "ugly,saline, fringed with marsh, grime and seaweed" (68). When Gene starts a fightwith Quackenbush and falls into the Naguamsett because Quackenbush calls Gene "amaimed son-of-a-bitch," Gene surfaces from the Naguamsett feeling grimy, dirtyand in desperate need of a vat (71). Much like the clean, refreshing water ofthe Devon and the ugly saline water of the Naguamsett, Genes carefree attitudeof the summer session vastly differs from the angry, confused attitude of thewinter session.     Likewise, the two sessions, the summer and winter, give a differentsense of feeling toward school and life at Devon School. The summer sessionallows Finny to use his creativity. Finny invents blitzball and founds theSuper Suicide Society of the Summer Session. The students let their carefreeattitudes flow during the summer. Finny and Gene willingly break the rules tohave fun during the summer by ski pping sept and going to the beach. Finny likewisewears the school tie as a belt to the traditional term tea. Gene feels thatFinny cannot leave the room without being disciplined, but Finny manages to talkhis way out of the mess. However, the winter session causes a sense ofstrictness. The sermons now exhort the thought of "what we owe Devon," but inthe summer the students think of "what Devon owes us" (65). The get the hang andclass leaders try to enforce continuity, but Gene realizes that resurrecting thesummer session becomes impossible. Finny is not in school, no longer shall thestudents have their carefree attitudes, and the class officials and masters now