The novel A Separate Peace includes many important themes. The author, John Knowles, was able to make the book more realistic because of his personal experiences. Knowles, like the characters in the book attended a boarding school. Many of his dilemmas were similar to those of Gene and Finny. The boys were able to surmount the ins and outs of friendship, conformity, and growing up. Friendship is certainly a major theme throughout the novel. It …showed first 75 words of 557 total…

…showed last 75 words of 557 total…Gene was able to terminate his perennial guilt and forgive himself. Gene had finally matured from an insecure child to a self-accepting adult. Each theme in A Separate Peace by John Knowles has a major impact on the reader. All teens experience the good and bad elements of friendship, conformity, and growing up. This novel helps us all realize that accepting yourself and being true to your friends is essential for becoming a mature adult.