A Separate Peace

John Knowles' novel, A Separate Peace, invokes the idea that all human beings have enemies. The characters of Gene and Finny show us that forgiveness is part of our spirituality, intertwined with human frailties, such as jealousy and hatred. The complex world of evil and good is at the very root of Knowles' vision of a relationship between two young men, separated from the spoils of WWII, but nonetheless parallel the anguish and gut wrenching wounds of war and friendship. All for what, I ask? Power? Resources? Instinct? Human nature at its worst?