#9 Theme

“A Separate Peace” is a novel that I find interesting.  There are many books about WWII, however there are not many that are quite like this.  There are few to none novels that depict the life of the average American teen during the war before they are drafted.  This is a novel like many others that teaches that life isn’t always sunshine and happiness, however the way that this novel teaches this lesson is also a very unique factor.  The way that this lesson is taught is through the slowly growing relationship between two boys who go through military school. Life isn’t always sunshine and happiness because one of the boys gets his leg broken twice.  Right before his death, the two boy’s relationships are at their strongest.  This climax in the two boy’s relationships is caused by the realization that the first time Finny broke his leg was a complete accident though it was mainly caused by Gene. After they agree on this, their trust and friendship in one another grows to be very strong and Finny ends up forgiving Gene. This show us what I believe to be one of the many themes, even in the darkest of times there is always a little bit of light. “It was just some kind of blind impulse you had in the tree there, you didn’t know what you were doing”… “I believe you. It’s okay because I understand and I believe you” (Knowles, 191)