A Separate Peace: Three Symbols
Beginning of paper
The three dichotomous symbols in A Separate Peace by John Knowles
reinforce the innocence and evil of the main characters, Finny and Gene.
Beside the Devon School flow two rivers on opposite sides of the school,
the Naguamsett and the Devon. The Devon provides entertainment and
happiness for Gene ....
Middle of paper
.... Naguamsett as "ugly,
saline, fringed with marsh, mud and seaweed" (68). When Gene starts a
fight with Quackenbush and falls into the Naguamsett because Quackenbush
calls Gene "a maimed son-of-a-bitch," Gene surfaces from the Naguamsett
feeling grimy, dirty and in desperate need of a bath (71). Much like the
clean, refreshing water of the Devon and the ugly saline water of the
Naguamsett, Gene's carefree attitude of the summer session vastly differs
from the angry, confused attitude of the ....
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Word count: 703
Page count: 3 (approximately 250 words per page)
