A Separate Peace
The Devon and Naguamsett rivers flow through campus giving the students a setting to get away from the reality of their school life. The students tend to gravitate towards the Devon river, but stray from the Naguamsett river. The rivers are complete opposites. The Devon river symbolizing innocence and the Naguamsett river symbolizing adulthood contrast through the consistency of the novel A Separate Peace.
Because the devon river is clean and a safe haven for most of the boys, the river symbolizes innocence and the peaceful idea of the devon school campus. As a result of the Devon river being clean, this symbolizes innocence and purity because the water is untouched and untainted. The Devon river was described as “the fresh-water Devon above the dam where we'd had so much fun, all the summer" (Knowles 76.) This proves that the boys thought of the Devon river as a fun getaway from all of their school work and problems. When they were at the Devon river they could put all their problems aside and focus on being a kid. When at the river they play games and “get ready for war” by jumping out of a tree, which …show more content…
The Naguamsett river is described as “ugly, saline, fringed with marsh, mud and seaweed" (Knowles 76.) The river was murky and no one wanted to swim or even be near the river. The Devon avoid the Naguamsett river as much as possible. The river creates a scene of war and danger. No one wants to be around it. If the Devon River represents serenity, Gene associates the Naguamsett with war and winter (Themes and Construction: A Separate Peace 3.) The reader begins to learn more about the Naguamsett river near the middle and ending of the book, which is when students of Devon begin to enlist. The Naguamsett river is unsettling and dirty and dangerous like the World War II
Because the devon river is clean and a safe haven for most of the boys, the river symbolizes innocence and the peaceful idea of the devon school campus. As a result of the Devon river being clean, this symbolizes innocence and purity because the water is untouched and untainted. The Devon river was described as “the fresh-water Devon above the dam where we'd had so much fun, all the summer" (Knowles 76.) This proves that the boys thought of the Devon river as a fun getaway from all of their school work and problems. When they were at the Devon river they could put all their problems aside and focus on being a kid. When at the river they play games and “get ready for war” by jumping out of a tree, which …show more content…
The Naguamsett river is described as “ugly, saline, fringed with marsh, mud and seaweed" (Knowles 76.) The river was murky and no one wanted to swim or even be near the river. The Devon avoid the Naguamsett river as much as possible. The river creates a scene of war and danger. No one wants to be around it. If the Devon River represents serenity, Gene associates the Naguamsett with war and winter (Themes and Construction: A Separate Peace 3.) The reader begins to learn more about the Naguamsett river near the middle and ending of the book, which is when students of Devon begin to enlist. The Naguamsett river is unsettling and dirty and dangerous like the World War II