Friendship is a bond that is held together by mutual respect and common benevolence. John Knowles explores this realm deeply in his novel, A Separate Peace. Phineas and Gene are best friends, but their friendship is challenged as Gene feels that Finny is superior. Finny, unlike Gene, has no inner conflict, but instead he mentally creates a perfect universe. When Gene finally unleashes his suppressed anger by use of violence, Finny is unable to accept …showed first 75 words of 666 total…

…showed last 75 words of 666 total…Finny. When Gene releases his anger, Finny is unable to accept the truth, because he wants to preserve his utopia. This perfect world is created by Finny’s mind in order to not see the evils of the real world. The friendship between the two of them is not mutual. This is why one must keep their enemies close, but their friends closer, because friends are most likely to stab their friends in the back.