Everyone needs a friend in their lives. A good friend is one who can be trusted, obliging, and will be there when one needs them the most. A friendship is either a good relationship or a bad one. A Separate Peace, a novel written by John Knowles, contains many incidences, which show how one friend can injure or aid another friend. The relationship held by Gene and Phineas, two of the major characters, gradually deteriorates as the novel progresses. At the conclusion of the novel, Gene learns he is a bad friend to Finny. The friendship that Gene and Finny possess is detrimental to both of their lives. The companionship altered Gene and Phineas mentally, educationally, and physically.

Gene and Finny transform mentally throughout the duration of their companionship. Both of their personalities evolve into a dissimilar one as the novel ensues. Not only does the friendship affect...