The bible remains a mystery to many people in society today. Due to anti religion in schools, the bible is not used for instruction, however seeps in through other ways. Perhaps, we can learn valuable lessons from this book. In John Knowles book A Separate Peace the author's focus on the tree, mans sinful nature, and Phineas as a Christ like figure are all biblical allusions that add a rich meaning to the novel.
The fall of Adam and Eve is strikingly similar to Gene's "fall" in A Separate Peace. In the book of Genesis, the Bible relates the story of Adam and Eve and their life in the Garden of Eden. Eden was a beautiful place in which there was no sin or suffering and every need was met. God's only stipulation was that the pair abstain form eating the fruit of a certain tree, yet it seems, even this was too much to ask. Genesis 3:6 states: "When the woman saw the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he also ate it." Immediately after this act, Adam and Eve lost their relationship with God and their sense of innocence.
Another way in which the novel and the Bible are in agreement, is found in Genesis 3:11-13 which says: "And he said, "who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" .
The man said, the woman you put here for me-she gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate it. Although Adam and Eve are remorseful about their sin, they do not wish to confess their transgression and take the weight of it upon themselves; instead, they rationalize, and try to transfer the blame by pointing fingers. Gene also demonstrates this passing of fault. In an incident prior to Phineas" fall, Gene and Finny were jumping from the same tree into the waters of the Devon River below. Only on this occasion, Gene had lost his balance and Finny was there to help him recover.
