A person often gains new insight as a result of a specific incident that he or she experiences. This point is clearly demonstrated in the novel A Separate Peace by John Knowles. Gene learns the profound meaning of friendship when he pushes Phineas out of the tree. When he learns that Phineas has this unconditional love for him, he becomes very guilty for what he has done. The author foreshadows many events from the beginning …showed first 75 words of 414 total…

…showed last 75 words of 414 total…lowered into the ground. Gene has learned an extremely important lesson and the results are irreversible. Gene’s newfound insight in A Separate Peace is clearly the friendship between Phineas and himself. Gene does not see this bond until the single point where he Phineas is pushed from the tree. The guilt for his envious actions will stay with him forever. The insight is definitely gained and the price is his best friend’s life.