After spending some time in the trenches, they realized the true brutality of war, including the humiliation the soldiers must endure, such as using outdoor toilets in the open. During the progression of the novel, Paul is given leave to visit his family. While there, he feels truly disconnected from everyone around him. There is a point in time where Paul reflects that at the end of the war, he would be unable to reintegrate into society, as all he knows is war. All Quiet on the Western Front very strongly achieves its goal of showing how a generation was destroyed by the war through its intense use of showing how the men have gone from everyday boys in school to almost less-than-human soldiers.
In another case, Paul is seen trying to save the life of an enemy that he has stabbed, he fails but his efforts shouldn’t be forgotten. His friends refer to him as a hero, and he neglects this title and all the medals. Paul doesn’t like war and what it represents, to him, war is the real evil. The government forcing people into war, without giving them a choice is evil War can easily turn any person into a hero. Corporal Himmelstoss was an average polite postman before being drafted into World War I, not soon after he became a bully.
Gene went to a private school full of rich and arrogant boys. He tries to fit in in the environment and as a result, he did something that made him feel guilt every second of his life. Because he envied Finny and his athletic abilities and popularity, he purposely shook the branch and made Finny fall and break his leg. As a result, Gene felt enormously guilty. Jealousy is never good.
Because the novel was set in the early years of World War II, a major theme throughout the story is war. Gene somehow created his own private war placing Phineas as the enemy. Although the one event that is the focus of the novel occurs very early on, the book holds the reader's interest until the very last word. It is an interesting novel of the war and a friendship between two boys. Every part of this story is critical to the outcome.
Phineas, as shown in the passage, remains unfazed by the war and continues to reflect his innocence. Gene’s diction throughout his narration helps to reveal Finny’s personality, but also hints to the major theme of war. For example, Gene recalls,”…I bent cheerfully over to help him up,” this shows how despite the fact that Finny had turned on Gene and later on everyone, Gene still happily helped Finny up. This reflects his personality because it is nearly impossible to become angry at Phineas, his constant fun-loving attitude, rubs off on others. Finny’s personality is also reflected in Gene’s diction when Gene says how Finny had a “steadily widening grin,” when he “was driven down beneath a blizzard of snowballs.” This exemplifies Phineas’ personality because he was at his happiest when the tables were turned against him and there would be no chance of any distinct winners or losers.
Several modern rulers (from everyday fathers to leaders of the country) have begun as ‘brave soldiers’ and ended as crazy destroyers because of their poor choices and the consequences. Psychologists have shown us that, behind seemingly straightforward human motives (good or bad), there are often extremely complicated emotions and intentions. From Macbeth killing practically everyone in his life for his own gain, to the armed robberies and riots happening all over the world, we see greed, violence and people struggling with the concept of right and wrong in our everyday lives, no matter how far we think we’ve come from Macbeth. Lately we’ve been hit by a tidal wave of armed robberies. From general stores to petrol stations and even a train station in Perth has come under attack from guns and knives.
In the book a Separate peace, rivalry negatively changes relationships throughout the characters actions. There are many characters in this book that face jealousy, rivalry and betrayal throughout the novel. The major character that faces jealousy is Gene; he got jealous of Finny throughout the novel which ends bad. Throughout the book Genes jealousy of Finny, results in death. First of all Gene’s first sight of jealousy of Finny was when he realized that Finny got away with everything he did.
Both examples show how each of the boys are opposed to face their own realities, and because of this they end up hurting themselves. Other similarities between both characters are displayed throughout the stories also. Such as, in the book, Finney finds out Gene pushes him off the tree on purpose, and Finney doesn’t want to ask why because he “believes [him],” and that it would crush Finney (Knowles 191). Since he cannot bear to face the circumstances, consequently Finney, who became “increasingly dependent on Gene,” dies with a broken heart (Telgen). In the same way, Neil is clearly resistant towards his father when he lies to Mr. Keating about asking for his father’s
Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, portrays this statement through the slaughters done by Macbeth the main character. Gene Forreser from A Separate Peace, by John Knowles similarly is blamed for harming his best friend Phineas. Both characters due to their actions, caused a dark time to occur. When moments of distress and conflict ensue, society begins to
He watched in fear as the neighborhood bully (who was demented) brutally raped his best-friend and servant, Hassan. He was haunted by the fact that he did nothing to help his friend, who has consistently stood up for him and helped him get out of trouble. To make matter even worse, he chose to get rid of Hassan (who he didn’t know was actually his half-brother) by planting his watch and money under Hassan’s mattress – all so that he wouldn’t be reminded of the instance and his lack of courage. This was a much worse sin than not doing anything to help his best-friend. This time, it was a transgression committed on purpose instead of just the lack of courage for the first time.