The images that the narrator uses to describe his former home paint the school as a place of conservatism and traditionalismtwo qualities against which Finny fights. The theme of reflection is also central to the novel the novel is spawned by a visit back to his old school, and the work hinges upon a dialogue between the past and the present, and the relation of a man to his much younger self. Even the narrator's recollections are filtered through his present experience and interest at times, he speaks of the events of his past as if they were just happening, but then he breaks the spell with some adult commentary, reminding the reader that the story was written after the events took place, and therefore is influenced by his present state, and dependent upon his memory. The story is a first-person narrative, and the narrator is telling of events that took place fifteen years before the time he is recording the story because of this, the tone is colored with nostalgia, and tempered with the narrator's feelings about his past. The point of view and perspective of a work are always very important, and they are especially important in A Separate Peace, a novel that is highly colored by these two factors. Gene is normally a conservative, conformist type person, but under Phineas' potent influence, he becomes more devil-may-care and consents to break the rules with his friend. They head back toward school, late for dinner Phineas, the rebel of the two, exasperates Gene by making him really late, and then Gene gives in and decides to skip dinner altogether with his friend. Phineas, being the daredevil, goes firstand Gene is the only one from the small party that he is able to persuade to follow him. It is their first attempt to jump off the huge tree into the rivera daunting and somewhat dangerous feat that is usually reserved for senior boys. The narrative shifts back 15 years, to Gene's days with Phineas. He notices, when he sees the tree, how vast the difference is between youthful memory and adult perception. It is a rainy, cold November day as he inspects the school grounds, and revisits the cold, hard marble stairs in the First Academy Building, which seem to hold some kind of memory for Gene he also trudges over the muddy playing fields, to the river, and a tree that he and Phineas used to jump off of, bravely. He notices how much like a museum the school looks, how lifeless and polished but the place brings back even keener memories for this preserved quality of appearance.
The narrator, Gene, returns to the Devon School in New Hampshire, where he was a student with his rebellious friend Phineas almost 15 years ago, just as World War II was breaking out.
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