Gene Forrester's self realization and self discovery is the main theme of 'A Separate Peace' by John Knowles. This process begins when he pushes his best friend Phineas from a tree and it continues until he visits this tree fifteen years later. Gene must learn to face reality and the future, confront his problems, as well as forgive and accept what he has done. With the jouncing of the limb, Gene realizes his problems and the true person he is inside. He then tries to understand who he really is. When revisiting the tree as an adult, he finally is able to accept and forgives himself.…
