Self-awareness is hailed as the basis of emotional, mental, and physical well being. Problems arise when the self is neglected or misunderstood. Self-knowledge allows for virtuous feelings such as courage, love, and redemption, to flourish; self-ignorance leads to somber feelings of fear, pain, and guilt. Sydney Carton, the surly lawyer in Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, is seen by is contemporaries as lazy, vulgar, worthless. Upon meeting Lucie Manette, he manages to see beyond the irascible fazade he has created for himself to discover a kind heart, capable of feeling. In John Knowles' A Separate Peace, Gene never learns of the existence and power of the darkness existing within him. Thus, he never learns to deal and control that force, which leads to the harm and eventual death of his best friend.
Sydney Carton is a very bitter man. He seems to care for no one, least of all his own person. He creates a barrier of cynicism and insolence between the common world and himself, appearing arrogant while suffering from an overwhelming sense of failure. He has embraced this image to the point where he does not recognize the love he has for Lucie Manette discover and admit of his love for Lucie. Although Lucie does not return the favor, being enamored of Charles Darnay, she has compassion and feelings of friendship for Carton. The warm feelings existing between them allow for great things to be done. Was it not for Carton's recognition of feelings beyond the gloom and bitterness he permanently showcased, the brilliant conclusion to the novel would not have been possible. Gene never does see beyond the friendship fazade established between Phineas and himself. Because of this, the subconscious violence present in him results in pain of a very literal kind. Not only does this seriously injure Finny; it also causes emotional pain to Gene, who never forgives himself. Through a rather extraordinary succession of events, those unascertained dark feelings in Gene cause Finny s death.