I know that Kenneth Kesey was literally insane. However, I don't know a thing about what led to the writing of A Separate Peace.
In John Knowles early life (up to the age of fifteen) he enrolled in a fancy and elite boarding school. This is most likely where he came up with the inspiration for the Devon School. This school was considered to be rigorous, and challenging for the author during his stay there. Because the war is heavily emphasized in A Separate Peace, I decided to research more into where that aspect entered A Separate Peace. John Knowles grew up around the time that the war was occurring, and thus right after he graduated from his rigorous and elite high school he decided to go join the war efforts. This was in the place of his college education (for the time being). I also find it interesting how this is such a major aspect in A Separate Peace, when Gene nonchalantly mentions that he is going to join the war immediately after he leaves his precious Devon School. This frightens Finny, because for once in Finny's life, he has no control over something. Thus the value of an education is introduced into the story.
Though the story of the life of Kenneth Kesey is much more enticing than that of John Knowles, I think they are both fascinating people. Where the inspiration for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest came from torture and hallucinations, the inspiration for A Separate Peace was all in the authors mind. He did make up the characters, however pulling some in from his life. I wonder who inspired Finny??
Hiren, for the next post I really want to hear your opinion on what Kenneth Kesey did at Stanford to earn money. Was being the subject of these terrible tests moral and ethical? Do you think he still could have produced such a "fantastic" piece of writing had he not been under the influence of such drugs?
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