A Separate Peace

            In the story A Separate Peace by John Knowles, the two most emphasized characters are very alike. Although their similarities are sometimes over looked. Phineas, like Gene, is a very caring person. Both of these teenagers care for each other immensely. Even though the way they express themselves are totally different. In addition they are frustrated. With school, boyhood, and most of all rules to stop their fun, the only thing to do is rebel against the authorities. The boys feed off of each other's personalities to survive daily life. This in turn makes them closer and they are sensitive to the feelings that they both possess.
             Being someone's best friend is not easy. Although it may appear to be in Gene and Phineas" case that statement would not be true. To have a best friend is to have entertainment and getting along all of the time is not entertaining. For instance Finny is an all out go and get it athletic risk taker. Gene is an all in watch from the sidelines follower. Finny tries to push Gene to be a more exciting person without getting himself into trouble. More than anything Finny is persuasive, unlike Gene. Finny can talk himself out of any intense situation without flinching. Gene on the other hand is cautious and thinks about his actions before performing them to avoid any ruff consequences. Therefore these characters involve each other is a numerous amount of different obstacles that they work through together as friends only on a more subconscious level.