Often in a work of literature, a character's experiences and realizations offer a reader a greater understanding of human behavior and emotion. John Knowle's A Separate Peace, the character Gene has experiences with life shattering events and he eventually understands the boys' separate peace. His ultimate healing represent the pathway from adolescent immaturity to adult understanding. John Knowles gives the reader clues and information to help the reader understand this. Gene's character is introduced into …showed first 75 words of 596 total…

…showed last 75 words of 596 total…feelings and guilt kept inside of him for so long. Experiences from tragic events in his younger years help him into adulthood. His comprehension of Devon's separate peace is based upon knowledge that seems to make him wise beyond his years. These along with the other life shattering events prepare him for the coming hardships of adulthood. At the end of the story, Gene's understanding and final healing helps him mature from his adolescent immaturity.