Use of Symbols and Symbolism in Knowles Separate Peace :: Separate Peace Essays

Use of Symbolism in A set forth Peace   John Knowles uses the literary element of symbolism in his novel, A Separate Peace. broker, a student at the Devon Prep School in New Hampshire, tries to understand the love, hate, and jealousy that he feels for his roommate Phineas, nicknamed "Finny." Knowles uses the accumulation Hall, the stain staircase, and the footlocker room to symbolize how Genes revengefulness affects Finny, and how this effect leads Gene into adulthood. As the effects of Genes spiteful feelings toward Finny are developed, the Assembly Hall in which Genes endeavor takes place is symbolic. Brinker, a classmate, leads some of Genes peers to bring him to the Assembly Hall. At this time, Gene further realizes that he shook the limb on purpose, which causes Finny to fall tabu of the tree. Genes peers are beginning to doubt his innocence. Finny has a burst of anger at the end of Genes running game in the Assembly Hall. During this enlargement, F inny says "I just dont care. Nevermind" (168). Finnys outburst causes his second injury, which is rooted in Genes spitefulness towards him. Genes feelings and their effects are cerebrate together by the Assembly Hall. Finnys anger toward the events of the trial eventually leads to his ingest death as he storms out into the corridor. As Finny runs down the corridor, the marble staircase that he approaches is symbolic. Finny storms out of the Assembly Hall in which Genes trial is being held and begins running down the corridor. At this point, Finny fully realizes that Gene measuredly shook the limb, which made Finny fall out of the tree. Finny is in denial, thus do him to storm out of the room. When Finny reaches the marble staircase, he falls, breaking his leg one time again. This injury kills him due to the doctors mistake while setting the broken bone. Genes spiteful feelings can be directly connected to the events that took place during and after the Assembly Hall tr ial. Consequently, the marble staircase symbolizes how Genes spiteful feelings ultimately cause Finnys death. At the end of the school session after Finnys death, Genes cleaning out his locker is another symbolic act. Gene says, "Brinker went upstairs to continue his packing, and I walked everyplace to the gym to clean out my locker" (193).