down the white marble stairs” (169). Finny’s separate peace has fallen-literally and
figuratively. The operation that Finny must undergo is supposedly simple. The operation is
simple but a complication occurs and Finny dies. With Finny dies his separate peace. With
the force of Finny’s separate peace on Devon the war comes full-fledged into Devon in the
person of troops from Parachute Riggers’ school, who take over the Far Common. Gene
realizes this as he walks down the halls to hear the P.T. instructors voice yelling, “Hut!
Hew! Hee! Hore!” Indeed Gene’s reality is the truth: the war is very real and very
destructive.
John Knowles communicates what war really is. He uses complex characters in a
very complicated plot in order to convey the harsh, sad, cruel, destructive forces of war.
Gene and Finny’s relationship that includes the opposition illustrates this fact. Their
relationship is used by Knowles to establish the terrible reality of war in all of its essence.