Poise
In the novel A Separate Peace, by John Knowles, the protagonist Gene Forrester matures through three stages of his life at a New Hampshire prep school. At the beginning of the story, Gene is insecure and jealous of his charismatic friend, Phineas. Later in the tale, Gene's obsession with Phineas, or more often referred to as Finny, causes Gene to obtain Finny's identity after a tragic accident in which Gene disables Finny. At the end of the book, Gene's brief stay at Devon School transforms him into a self-assured, mature young man. Through all of the events in the novel, Gene learns one must be comfortable with himself to live a happy life and achieve a "Separate Peace."
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