Leper in A Separate Peace Essay

In John Knowles novel, A Separate Peace, Leper acts a nonconformist because of the things he likes to do, how he keeps to himself, and his views on the war. As the war looms in on the boys, Leper holds very different views on the war. Instead of spending time with Gene, Finny, Brinker, and the rest of the group, Leper chooses to seclude himself in his own world. Compared to what the group likes to do, Leper involve himself in many different activities, making him stick out as an oddball.

Lepers interests make him stand out from the rest of the group. He likes art, specifically painting and drawing. Gene portrays these artistic qualities when he narrates, But not Leper. He generally made little sketches and trees in the back of his notebook (93). During the winter, Leper skis. On his skis, Leper tours the land, riding along slowly as to not miss all the scenery in the process. Nature has a large place in Lepers heart. Besides using scenes of nature in his art, he goes out and explores the nature surrounding Devon. These things tend to separate Leper from Gene, Brinker, Finny, and the rest of the group.

Participating in his odd activities, Leper secludes himself from others. Gene and Finny jump from the tree down by the river. Even though they ask him to participate in this feat, Leper abstains. When Brinker and Gene shovel snow to clear the tracks, Leper stays at the school and searches for a beaver dam. He reveals his plans when he tells Gene, I will if I find what Im looking for- a beaver dam (96). Since Leper draws and paints, he spends much of his time in his room doing so. He portrays snails, leaves and other nature related things, scattering the sketches around his room. Along with his different interests, that in turn keep him away from the group, Leper holds very different views on the war, views that differ from Finnys idea of a fake war.

Leper upholds views on the war that differ form everyone elses views. He ignores the buzz about the war that engulfs Devon and all those who attend the school . Unlike Gene and Finny, Leper does not read the war stories in the paper because he really could care less. Along with ignoring the papers, Leper puts no effort into the war unlike the other boys do. In the summer, when the boys go to a nearby farm to pick apples which will then be sent over into Europe to feed the troops, Leper stays at Devon. Even though Leper enlists first out of all the students, the war destroys him. When Gene visits him after he escapes the war, he narrates, For if Leper was psycho, it was the army which had done it to him (144). Lepers ultimate destruction comes from something he originally disregards and gives no effort to.

Because of Lepers interest, his seclusion to himself from others, and his opinions on the war, people think of him as an oddball, a misfit in the group. His activities; painting, drawing, skiing, and nature seclude him in his own little world in which he does as he pleases. Along with these certain interests, his views on the war which differ from the groups general views, further seclude him from everyone else. Oscar Wilde once said, Most people are other people, their thoughts are someone elses opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation. Leper defies this quote, he says what he believes and does what he wants, not what anyone else wants.