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

Use of Symbolism in A Separate Peace   John Knowles uses the literary element of symbolisation in his novel, A Separate Peace. Gene, 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 meeting place Hall, the marble staircase, and the storage locker room to symbolize how Genes spitefulness affects Finny, and how this effect leads Gene into adulthood. As the effects of Genes spiteful feelings toward Finny argon developed, the Assembly Hall in which Genes mental testing 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 out of the tree. Genes peers are beginning to doubt his innocence. Finny has a burst of anger at the end of Genes trial in the Assembly Hall. During this outburst, Finny says "I just dont care. Nevermind" (168). Finnys outburst causes his second injury, which is root in Genes spitefulness towards him. Genes feelings and their effects are linked together by the Assembly Hall. Finnys anger toward the events of the trial eventually leads to his own 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 intentionally shook the limb, which made Finny fall out of the tree. Finny is in denial, thus causing him to storm out of the room. When Finny reaches the marble staircase, he falls, intermission his leg once 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 subsequently the Assembly Hall tri al. 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 over to the gym to clean out my locker" (193).