A Separate Peace: Self-Knowledge and Inner Peace The theme suggested in the concluding paragraph of the novel A Separate Peace is that people create their own enemy and then they defend themselves laboriously and obsessively from their imaginary enemy. They develop a particular state of mind to dispel the fear that arises when faced with their non-existent enemy. In the novel, the protagonist, Gene, tries to fight a war with his best friend, Finny, without realizing that the enemy he sees is not Finny but his own insecurity. At first Gene believes that Finny is actually his enemy who is trying to sabotage him. Gene thinks that Finny envies his academic abilities just as he envies Finny's extraordinary athletic ability. To feel better about himself, Gene lowers Finny to his level so that they are "equals, even at enmity". Gene's attitude towards Finny is a manifestation of his jealousy and lack of self-confidence. Finny, on the other hand, is extremely confident. He never had the evil thought of destroying Gene's vows - he is too innocent a person to have such a thought. Furthermore, Finny, being a happy-go-lucky person, doesn't even care about his own grades, and certainly not Gene's grades. Gene doesn't realize the truth, or perhaps he simply doesn't want to admit the truth himself from recognizing that he isn't completely satisfied with his character, or lack thereof. Gene finally realizes that Finny isn't trying... middle of paper... the defenses people have built are as useless as the "Maginot Lines"; they only prevent people from analyzing their own emotions and characters. People should see the enemy and war in a more objective perspective and try to understand themselves.