Gene launches into a long narrative about war and its presence in his life at that time, and he acknowledges that his understanding of it was directly related to his age and how others perceived him because they foresaw his future in the draft. What is the difference between your understanding of the American wars going on today (and how it impacts you) compared to what Gene relates to us about his experience in this passage. Choose a specific sentence or image to focus on to help ground your exploration. - Caverley-Light
The experience of an American teenager today is very different then it was for Gene back in the 1940s. War affected teenagers a lot more in that era because it was such a prominent idea that they would in fact be drafted off to war, whether they volunteered or not. War doesn’t affect teenagers as much in current day America because they aren’t required to be drafted unless the country runs out of volunteers. The only teenagers today with direct experience are the ones who enlisted.
By contrast, in chapter 3 of A Separate Peace by John Knowles, Gene begins to explain to the reader how he sees America in the time of war and how other people perceive him as a teenager in the 1940s. Gene makes it clear that to him, the war is basically his whole reality. He says, “for me, this moment---four years is a moment in history---was the war” (pg. 40). He lives in this environment for 4 years and will remember it even decades later as something that he experienced first hand. Throughout this narrative, Gene describes America during wartime as someplace where opportunities aren’t available and diminishes the idea that it is portrayed to be (a land of opportunities, freedom, and plenty). Everyone else is off to war, the sixteen year olds can enjoy their last bit of freedom before being drafted and having to begin to train. Gene says that, “sixteen is the key and crucial and natural age for a human being to be...” (pg. 41). Finny and Gene definitely enjoy their time of innocence while the upperclassmen are training to fight. “...when you are sixteen, adults are slightly impressed and almost intimidated by you...they foresee your military future, fighting for them” (pg. 41). For a lot of the adults, the teenagers are the only thing giving them any hope, they’re the ones that will be drafted and shipped off to defend the country.
- Do you think that if a major war happened in the present day, teenagers would be placed in the same mindset as Gene was? Explain.
- Do you think Finny cares as much about the war as Gene does? Why or why not?
- Why do some people find it unpatriotic to oppose the war?
I agree that teenagers now have a very different experience than those during the 1940s. Now, if there was a world war, we would get information much fast and troops would be able to communicate with their families. I think teenagers now would be very upset if there was a war, because now 18 is still considered young, with many more people going to college than in the 1940s. many more people would be ripped away from school. Through out what we have read, the war seems to be in the back of both boys heads, but it doesn't come up very much for them to think about. Finny is a much more careless person than Gene, but that doesn't mean he doesn't care about the war.
ReplyDeleteHow do you think the war affects the different grades in Devon differently?
I think that the mindset has changed since the last World War. When A Separate Peace takes place, not only is WW11 raging, but WW1 was still a recent memory. Not necessarily for the younger generation by who the novel revolves, but their parent. Many people still held their past service as a medal, and being a soldier was quiet dignified. The position was glorified. Naturally, these children wanted that glory. Now a days, WW2 is a distant memory, something we only learn about in class. We are not taught be people who fought in it or raised by parents who did. Everything we learn is somewhat mystified and second had. There was a clear message, the most honorable thing you can do is fight for your country. In a digital society filled with social media and fake news, it is hard to stick to one message when opposing ideas and morals are being thrown at you every moment.
ReplyDeleteDo you think Finny cares as much about the war as Gene does? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteBased on the way Finny’s character is described in the story, he might be portrayed like he doesn't care as much about the war compared to Gene. However, I think this is because the story is told from Gene’s perspective and he narrates the story in a way that makes him sound much smarter than Finny. While Gene seems more educated on the war, I think Finny still cares about the war equally as much as Gene. To say that Finny does not care about the war is biased because we don’t know what Finny could be hiding from Gene. Or rather does Finny use blitzball and the super suicide society as ways to cope with the war? Both boys realize that the draft is coming sooner than they think, but they each express their fear in different ways.
How do you think Gene copes with the war?What about Finny?
How do you think Gene copes with the war? (Bridget's question)
ReplyDeleteI think that Gene copes with war by looking to Finny as his role model. Throughout these beginning chapters Gene has mentioned that he thinks Finny is perfect at almost everything. Of course this is a biased lens since we are reading and observing through Gene's eyes. Gene had said before that he thought that his and Finny's relationship was the best example of America's future and of innocence. By making a giant reputation for himself and Finny, he distracts himself from his inevitable future. Gene also copes with his future and the war with academics. Although Finny tries to distract him from his studying, Gene is one of the brightest at Devon. Burying himself in his work is another way for Gene to distract himself from the draft just a year away.
Do you think Finny cares as much about the war as Gene does? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteJohn Knowles writes A Separate Peace from Gene's point of view and this creates bias throughout the whole story. Gene definitely seems to care more about the war than Finny, but we also know a lot more about Gene than Finny. Finny may be less educated than Gene, but it doesn't take a genius to know about an entire World War that is about to commence. I think Finny's creation of Blitzball and the Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session takes his mind away from the cold thoughts about war. I also believe that both boys are trying to 'live' as much as possible incase the army starts the draft early. Finny and Gene biking to the beach, swimming, breaking rules, and skipping class, all indicates to me that they are having as much fun as possible incase they have to go to war or war comes to America.
How does the upcoming World War relate to Gene and Finny's war to be better than the other?