Symbolism in A Separate Peace Essay

The novel, A Separate Peace, by John Knowles takes place during World War II at a private school named Devon. This all boys school is run very strictly. The year is 1942, during the summer session, which is implemented while the war is going on. Two of the main characters are boys that attend the school: one is the athletic successor, Finny and the other is the scholar, Gene. Throughout the novel, John Knowles uses symbolism to enhance the book. Symbolism is an object or idea that stands for or represents something else. Symbolism can enhance literature by allowing an author to use everyday objects and situations in order to represent something else. In A Separate Peace, John Knowles uses many everyday objects to represent many important ideas.

In a Separate Peace an ordinary tree is not so ordinary. The tree where Finny fell can be considered the tree of knowledge. The tree that hangs over the river is an important and symbolic image throughout the book. It offers Gene the first opportunity to become more like Finny; he jumps from its branches into the Devon River below, a daring feat that scares him to death. It is also the tree that causes the creation of the Super Suicide Society, formed by Finny to celebrate freedom and disregard of authority. Most importantly, the tree allows Gene to punish Finny for his superiority; he pushes his friend from the tree, causing him to become a cripple. The tree first represents the excitement and carelessness of youth. The tree was someplace where the boys could get away to. When Finny fell, the tree then represented pain, sorrow, and the change of youth to adulthood. As well as the tree in Devon, the Garden of Eden is a symbol in the story.

In A Separate Peace, the Garden of Eden is represented by Devon. Eden is a separate peace of the world just like Devon is a separate peace of the war. Eden represents peace and happiness during, and only during, the summer session. In Eden, just as in Devon, there is a tree. This tree represents youthful knowledge changing into the knowledge of sins. In Eden, Adam and Eve dont have a care in the world. There is nothing wrong. The only thing they were told not to do was eat the apple. This is like the jumping from the tree. Though Adam and Eve were told not too, they still did. They got kicked of Eden. This is just like Finnys fall. The once youthful innocence that was present soon turned into adulthood and the knowledge of sins. As well as the tree and Eden, the war was a big symbol in the story.

The war is a symbol of the "real world", from which the boys exclude themselves. It is as if the boys are in their own little world or bubble secluded from the outside world and everyone else. Along with their friends, Gene and Finny play games and joke about the war instead of taking it seriously and preparing for it. Finny organizes the Winter Carnival, invents the game of Blitz Ball, and encourages his friends to have a snowball fight. When Gene looks back on that day of the Winter Carnival, he says, "---it was this liberation we had torn from the gray encroachments of 1943, the escape we had concocted, this afternoon of momentary, illusory, special and separate peace". War is also a symbol of the real world when Leper enlisted. Recruiting posters and propaganda advertising the army convinces many boys into thinking the war is an exciting adventure in which young men interact. Leper enlists in the army after being impressed by a film shown by a recruiter from the U.S. ski troops. Leper is amazed by these men and how they, with their recognizable and friendly faces, give a clean response to war. However, he has a breakdown of emotions after joining the troops. He becomes psychotic, goes crazy, and is given a Section Eight. The war proves too much for such an innocent, isolated boy. The war was a symbol of the real world when the boys of Devon thought that enlisting and the war itself was not a terrible thing.

In A Separate Peace, symbols are used in order to enhance the novel and allow the author to convey their own ideas through a specific character of object throughout the novel. The tree, the war and the Garden of Eden both represent youthful innocence turning into knowledge and adulthood. The war also represents the reality of life. As seen in the novel, symbols can be used effectively to convey various thoughts, feelings, and ideas which the author would like to show through characters and objects on the story.