Can you live in the illusion you create in an attempt to escape the reality of your life choices? In the book A Separate Peace by John Knowles, the main character inadvertently hurts his better friend and doesn't confess it. Gene is the main character and narrator. He tells the story through a flashback while visiting the school he went to with his best friend. Gene is a very intelligent young man, however he has a tendency to over-evaluate situations. His best friend Phineas, or Finny, is the opposite, he acts on impulse and is an excellent athlete This approach to situations leads him to the conclusion that his best friend, Finny, is attempting to decimate his academic This thought leads Gene on the path of jealousy and the idea of ​​revenge. There comes a day when Finny asks Gene to join him at the top of the tree that the army uses for training. However, when they are both on the branch that yes extends from the tree, Gene performs an action involuntarily, involuntarily and for the first time without thinking about it. He jerks the limb causing Finny to fall. This accident takes away the ability that made Finny so spectacular. The accident ruins his leg and Finny will never play sports again. The accident creates a turmoil of emotions within Gene. He doesn't want Finny to know the truth, but the act of lying is robbing Gene of his conscience. Ultimately the revelation of the truth distances Finny from Gene. In an attempt to escape the cruelty of accepting his best friend's hatred towards him, he falls down the stairs and breaks his leg again. Finny eventually dies trying to escape. As the doctor attempts to fix his broken leg, the p... in the center of the card... confident that he will be able to heal Finny's leg without help or assistance. Unfortunately, an irreversible mistake befalls Finny and he cannot survive this ordeal, and the repercussions of the truth imposed on Finny result in his death. If Gene had personally told Finny what had happened, then Finny would not have had this accident, and therefore would not have been cut off from life when his influence was still needed. So even though confessing would hurt Finny's feelings, it would clear Gene's conscience. , awakened Finny to reality and ultimately saved his life. All these facts support the idea that Gene's confession to Finny would have developed the lives of both of these characters differently and inevitably with more success and happiness. Gene never truly understands his feelings towards Finny. Whether it's jealousy or brotherhood, they are undeniably strong.