Analyzing Communication Breakdown in A Separate Peace

The novel A Separate Peace by John Knowles presents many communication issues. Throughout the novel, the main characters, Gene Forrester and Finny, struggle to always communicate effectively. Many times, it seems as if the two "good" friends are not on the same page, and it seems as if Gene causes these problems, for the most part, with his lack of communication skills. On the other hand, Finny seems to have some very effective communication skills, as demonstrated throughout the early stages of the novel.

We first see Finny's effective communication when there is a confrontation between the teacher, Mr. Prud'homme, and him and Gene. Mr. Prud'homme is apparently upset that Gene and Finny missed dinner the night before and seeks to punish them. However, though Finny's cunning rebuttal persuades Mr. Prud'homme to not take any further action. Another instance where Finny uses effective communication is shortly after the confrontation with Mr. Prud'homme. Gene and Finny both attend a tea held by Mr. Patch-Withers, the headmaster, and Finny hits it off with Mr. Withers. While Finny is talking with Mr. Withers, his wife notices that Finny is inappropriately wearing the school tie as a belt. Once again, Finny avoids discipline though by continuing his conversation with Mr. Withers and eventually striking a note with his sense of humor. It seems as if all of the effective communication that arises from Finny bothers the less communicable Gene.

Gene is almost immediately bothered by Finny when he is able to talk his way out of trouble. The two boys find a tree later on that allows them to jump from one of its branches into the river. Gene and Finny then form the "Super Suicide Society of the summer session." Finny drafts up rules for the club and there is one rule that Gene is not particularly fond of. The rule is that at the beginning of each meeting Gene and Finny must jump from the tree. Rather than voicing his displeasure of the rule Gene chooses to stay silent on the matter and do the dreaded jump from the tree uncontested. At this point we are beginning to see that Gene doesn't really like to speak for himself.

Soon after these series of events Gene is attempting to do his math homework. Finny makes a remark that Gene must be trying to be valedictorian, and Gene immediately denies the claim. However, Gene knowing that he truly does want to achieve this honor doesn't retract his initial statement. After this discussion with Finny, Gene senses that there is a rivalry between him and Finny when there is indeed not. Rather than talk to Finny about his newfound sense of deceitfulness perpetrated by Finny, Gene commits a terrible act. While the two boys are performing a double jump off of the tree Gene shakes the branch enough to make Finny fall. The fall results in Finny having a severely broken leg and Gene does feel some remorse for the act. However, when confronted later on by the rest of the group of boys about the possibility of Gene making Finny fall on purpose, Gene repeatedly denies that he did it on purpose.

We see communication issues arise within Gene once again the next semester when Gene begins to go talk to Brinker Hadley, the new guy across the hall. Gene decides on the way to talk to him that he'd rather not speak with him. Obviously, Gene finds it uncomfortable to get acquainted with new people. Later, a few of the boys including Gene go to the butt room to smoke cigarettes. Upon arrival Brinker makes a joke about Gene being in the dungeon as a prisoner accused of killing his roommate. Gene reacts to the statement by making a rather bad joke that appears to implement him in the act of purposely making Finny fall. Finny eventually comes back to school after recovering from his broken leg and shares a room with Gene.

Soon after Finny has arrived Brink enters the room to ask Gene if he is ready to enlist for the war. Gene had agreed to the plan earlier with Brink, but reverses his decision when he sees Finny's reaction. Finny through his nonverbal communication has seemingly turned a decision in his favor once again. Finny is not without his communication issues either though. We see his issues arise in the latter parts of the novel, the first being when he declares that World War II is a nothing more than a conspiracy. Finny declares later in the novel that he only said that the war was a conspiracy was because none of the branches of the military would accept him due to his leg injury. Finny has also shrugged off the assumption that Gene intentionally made him fall from the branch. Finny has chosen not to acknowledge the fact publicly that he knows Gene made him fall until a "mock" trial is set up by the boys to determine the true cause of his fall. Gene makes no confession that he made Finny fall and after some eye witness accounts Finny has had enough. He leaves the trial in tears and falls down the stairs.

Gene goes to visit Finny in the hospital and Finny still tries to find some reason that Gene must have made him fall. He concludes that Gene must have had a different train of thought for a brief second. Gene rather than admitting to his blatant attempt to injure Finny goes along with Finny's assumption. After this conversation Gene is forced to leave, but says that he will return later after the doctor sets Finny's bone. Upon his arrival he learns from the doctor that Finny died during the procedure. Unfortunately, the truth about the whole incident was never revealed before Finny died because of both boys lack of effective communication.

Very few of Gene and Finny's communication problems were really solved in the novel. Gene never opens up to anybody and expresses his true feelings. Instead, he chooses to put on an act for most parts of the novel. Finny does use effective communication at points in the novel but he too is not without fault. He also chooses to hide certain feelings in order to avoid conflict amongst him, Gene, and the other boys. It would have beneficial to Gene and Finny's friendship if one of the boys would have truly expressed their true feelings before the untimely death of Finny.