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

Use of Symbolism in A dismantle intermission   John Knowles uses the literary element of symbolism in his novel, A Separate Peace. Gene, a student at the Devon Prep School in refreshful Hampshire, tries to understand the love, hate, and jealousy that he feels for his roommate Phineas, nicknamed "Finny." Knowles uses the Assembly sign of the zodiac, the marble staircase, and the footlocker room to symbolize how Genes spitefulness affects Finny, and how this effect leads Gene into adulthood. As the do of Genes spiteful feelings toward Finny argon developed, the Assembly Hall in which Genes trial takes put up is symbolic. Brinker, a classmate, leads some of Genes peers to bring him to the Assembly Hall. At this time, Gene nevertheless realizes that he agitate 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 residuum of Genes trial in the Assembly Hall. Duri ng this outburst, Finny says "I just dont care. Nevermind" (168). Finnys outburst causes his bet on blot, which is rooted in Genes spitefulness towards him. Genes feelings and their effects are linked unitedly by the Assembly Hall. Finnys anger toward the events of the trial eventually leads to his own destruction as he attacks 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 existence 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, breaking his leg once again. This injury kills him due to the doctors mistake while setting the broken bone. Genes spiteful feelings croup be directly connected to the events that took place during and after the Assembly Hall trial. Consequently, the marble staircase symbolizes how Genes spiteful feelings ultimately cause Finnys death. At the finish up of the school session after Finnys death, Genes cleaning out his locker is another(prenominal) symbolic act. Gene says, "Brinker went upstairs to continue his packing, and I walked over to the lycee to clean out my locker" (193).