A Separate Peace Quote ch.5

11/19/08

"I spent much time as i could alone in our room, trying to empty my mind of every thought, to forget where i was, even who i was...I decided to put on his close...I never forgot, and that evening i put on his cordovan shoes, his pants, and i looked for and finally found his pink shirt...I had become, no character out of daydreams. i was Phineas, Phineas to life"(62).

This quote is significant because it resembles Gene trying to escape his self. Gene by interrogating himself, and attempts to rid his mind of every thought, even to forget who he has. In this time of despair, Gene tries on Finny's clothing and "body" and acts like Finny, making faces and expressions in the mirror. At this point we see that Gene is using Finny as an escape from his own deteriorating life. That becoming Finny will rid him of his problems.

In real life could envy drive people to committing desperate, and not to mention creepy, acts like this?