In A Separate Peace by John Knowles, one of the main characters, Phineas, refused to face reality having both negative and positive consequences. As students at an upper-class private school, in New England, Devon, Phineas and his best friend Gene were both sheltered from World War II and other current events. But when Phineas returns to school after having shattered his leg, he finds himself alone in an alternate reality. He becomes withdrawn from his …showed first 75 words of 391 total…

…showed last 75 words of 391 total…