The Hostility Between Gene and Finny in A Separate Peace by John Knowle

The Hostility Between element and Finny in A Separate Peace by John Knowles component feels increasing aggressiveness toward Finny before his fall from the tree. In the novel A SEPARATE PEACE by John Knowles, the aversion amongst Gene and Finny increase because of the competition inside of them both to be better then one another. It is ab fall out the increasing competition between Gene and Finny and the hostility it brings. The hostility finally burst inside Gene and for one instant it takes over. It makes him do something he will always regret. Genes increasing hostility towards Finny finally brings the down fall of their friendship.Genes first form of hostility toward Finny was the realization thatFinny could take remote away with anything. First instance was when Finny waswearing his emblem, the wiretap button-down shirt, and Mr. Patch-Witherscame up to him. Mr. Patch-Withers ask him about the shirt and Finny toldhim the meaning of the shirt. As he explained the substitut e headmasterbecame more amused about the situation and allowed Finny to get awaywith breaking the school dress code. After this instance Gene admitted tobeing envious of Finny in this Quote, I was beginning to see that Phineascould get away with anything. I couldnt help look up toing him that a little,which is perfectly normal. There was no harm in envying your best frienda little. (18) In this quote Gene is just saying that he envies his bestfriend for some thing that he cant do. This situation is the first of manyforms of hostility towards Finny that brings about the incident in the tree.At the Patch-Withers company anther sign of Genes increasing envy towardsFinny is shown. This happens when Finny again gets away with breakingthe dress code. At the party when discussing the bombing of Europe, Mr.Patch-Withers discovers that Finny is wearing the school tie with his pinkshirt. With some quick anecdotes about how his shirt is a contribution tothe war effort and also be glad he wore a belt because his pants could falldown. With these quick anecdotes Finny got away with it, gave Mr.Patch-Withers a good laugh and angry Genes envy towards Finny.Gene gave this quote about the instance, He (Finny) had gotten awaywith everything. I felt a sudden stab of disappointment........ (21) Genereally does not know what he is feeling he says, but deep down it is hi... ...out towreck my studies. That explained blitzball, that explained the nightlymeetings of the Super Suicide Society.............Sure he wanted to shareeverything with me , especially his Ds in every subject. That way he, thegreat athlete, would be way ahead of me. It was all cold trickery, it was allcalculated, it was all enmity. (45) Gene thinks he was doing this bycramming his inscription with clubs and sports so that he wont have time tostudy and wreck his school grades. Then Finny can be better than him ateverything. Genes misunderstanding of Finny, not understanding that Genedid need to study and that i t did not come naturally, enraged Gene moremaking him ready to explode. I (Finny) didnt know you needed to study.(50) When Finny said this Gene took it way out of proportion making itGenes final straw. Gene was so enraged that he could not take it that Finnyonly meant that brains came natural. With the final straw gone Gene lost it.His mind was in such confusion that he followed Finny out to the tree. Heclimbed up it, and with out any regard for human life, Gene exploded. Heshook the limb making Finny lose his balance and fall to the ground.