Major Characters

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Major Characters

Gene: The narrator of the book, a student at Devon during World War II. His best friend at school was Phineas, while Gene was better known for his academic skills. Phineas and Gene spend a lovely summer together at Devon, which ends when Phineas falls from a tree; an accident which Gene consciously or unconsciously causes. Gene has a definite dark side lurking beneath the surface, though he appears to be a good, honest person in his everyday life.

Phineas(Finny): Gene's best friend and roommate. A remarkable athlete with a disregard for the rules and an innate ability to win people over. He gets Gene in quite a bit of trouble via his impulsive nature and instinctive disobedience, but he is very good at heart. He thinks the world of his best friend. He is unable to play sports after the accident, which crushes him. He decides that Gene shall take his place and become the wonderful athlete that he was before he shattered his leg.

Brinker Hadley: One of Gene's friends and his main rival for the top academic spot in the class. Brinker is rather strange. He makes long-running jokes with rather sinister undertones and seems very independent and determined. He is the one who starts enlistment fever on campus and then stops it by changing his mind because Gene won't go with him. He's a bit of a paradoxical character and a foil to the rebellious, free-spirited Finny.

Leper Lepellier: One of Gene and Finny's friends. He is a soft-spoken, nature-loving boy with an old soul and ways that are quite idiosyncratic compared with the other boys. He is an avid skier and naturalist. Rather uncharacteristically, he decides to enlist and is the first boy from Devon to do so. He becomes the symbol of American victories abroad for a while, but this is dashed when he deserts the service in a panic.

Chet Douglass: Another of Gene and Finny's friends. He is part of the Super Suicide Society. He is not quite as brave with Finny's little stunts. He's also one of the top students at the school, though Gene outpaces him because Chet's genuine curiosity for everything keeps him a little behind in class.

Bobby Zane: Another member of the Super Suicide Society. Also, he is not terribly adventurous. He likes to follow Finny around and go along with his inventions, but is a very minor character in the book.

Dr. Stanpole: The head of the school's infirmary. He is a friendly man who takes care of Finny when he breaks his leg, and Gene seems to know and like him.

Quackenbush: The captain of the crew team. Also, he is a generally disliked figure on campus. He and Gene get into a fight, which means the end of Gene's days as assistant captain, though it is no loss. He is rather awkward and humorless and no one seems to have special regard for him.

Mr. Ludsbury: Gene and Finny's term-time house master. He is a very stern and straight-laced rule monger who berates Gene for taking advantage of the summer masters. He is not a pleasant sort of fellow and also not susceptible to Finny's vast charm.

Phil Latham: The school wrestling coach. He is an expert in first aid. He helps Finny after his second fall, and stays with him until the doctor arrives.


	A Separate Peace \| home Major Characters \| About the Author \| A Separate Peace Forum \| Links to other A Separate Peace sites \| Mission Major Characters Gene: The narrator of the book, a student at Devon during World War II. His best friend at school was Phineas, while Gene was better known for his academic skills. Phineas and Gene spend a lovely summer together at Devon, which ends when Phineas falls from a tree; an accident which Gene consciously or unconsciously causes. Gene has a definite dark side lurking beneath the surface, though he appears to be a good, honest person in his everyday life. Phineas(Finny): Gene's best friend and roommate. A remarkable athlete with a disregard for the rules and an innate ability to win people over. He gets Gene in quite a bit of trouble via his impulsive nature and instinctive disobedience, but he is very good at heart. He thinks the world of his best friend. He is unable to play sports after the accident, which crushes him. He decides that Gene shall take his place and become the wonderful athlete that he was before he shattered his leg. Brinker Hadley: One of Gene's friends and his main rival for the top academic spot in the class. Brinker is rather strange. He makes long-running jokes with rather sinister undertones and seems very independent and determined. He is the one who starts enlistment fever on campus and then stops it by changing his mind because Gene won't go with him. He's a bit of a paradoxical character and a foil to the rebellious, free-spirited Finny. Leper Lepellier: One of Gene and Finny's friends. He is a soft-spoken, nature-loving boy with an old soul and ways that are quite idiosyncratic compared with the other boys. He is an avid skier and naturalist. Rather uncharacteristically, he decides to enlist and is the first boy from Devon to do so. He becomes the symbol of American victories abroad for a while, but this is dashed when he deserts the service in a panic. Chet Douglass: Another of Gene and Finny's friends. He is part of the Super Suicide Society. He is not quite as brave with Finny's little stunts. He's also one of the top students at the school, though Gene outpaces him because Chet's genuine curiosity for everything keeps him a little behind in class. Bobby Zane: Another member of the Super Suicide Society. Also, he is not terribly adventurous. He likes to follow Finny around and go along with his inventions, but is a very minor character in the book. Dr. Stanpole: The head of the school's infirmary. He is a friendly man who takes care of Finny when he breaks his leg, and Gene seems to know and like him. Quackenbush: The captain of the crew team. Also, he is a generally disliked figure on campus. He and Gene get into a fight, which means the end of Gene's days as assistant captain, though it is no loss. He is rather awkward and humorless and no one seems to have special regard for him. Mr. Ludsbury: Gene and Finny's term-time house master. He is a very stern and straight-laced rule monger who berates Gene for taking advantage of the summer masters. He is not a pleasant sort of fellow and also not susceptible to Finny's vast charm. Phil Latham: The school wrestling coach. He is an expert in first aid. He helps Finny after his second fall, and stays with him until the doctor arrives.