Lauren Crom Post 1 A Separate Peace

Compared to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, I find A Separate Peace a work of literary art!  There were several quotes that impressed me: 

“Looking back now across fifteen years, I could see with great clarity the fear I had lived in, which must mean that in the interval I had succeeded in a very important undertaking: I must have made my escape from it” (2). 

The fifteen mentioned in the quote above were the years that Gene Forrester had been absent from his town—specifically the Devon School in New Hampshire.  When I stumbled across this quote, I immediately thought that he was a troubled child, or wanted to escape from his anxieties, which he seemed to leave in the dust when he left New Hampshire.  We later learn that fifteen years ago was the time of World War Two.  Obviously there is much trouble within Gene Forrester.  Staring at the steps… What do you think is symbolic about that?  What do you think this holds for an OCD character such as Gene Forrester?

Another quote that I found intriguing was: 

“We had been idiosyncratic, leaderless band in the summer, undirected except by the eccentric notions of Phineas. Now the official class leasers and politicians could be seen taking charge, assuming as a matter of course their control of these walks and fields which had belonged only to us” (66).

Gene seems to be the type of person to stumble upon his past.  He seems to be a deep and intellectual thinker, and one who will criticize every blade of grass on the prettiest and most perfect lawn.  He appears to be stuck and hoping that taking a sojourn to his old school will close some of his insecurities and make him a better person.  I can’t wait for this story to progress—or regress. 

Another thing that I am really impressed with in A Separate Peace is the writing style.  The writing is beautiful, and if flows so well.  The above quote is a superb example of how the English language can be manipulated.  This is just one sample of many of the beautiful parts of A Separate Peace.  I can’t wait to continue reading!