The assessment of competition among friends can be analyzed between Phineas and Gene from A Separate Peace by John Knowles. Within the novel, the rivalry between these two friends is presented in a way that demonstrates the importance of friendly competition. Competition between peers is healthy because it increases the will to want to do better than the others therefore empowering themselves, the bond between the people might grow stronger, and when the competition finally stops everyone can look back at what they have done together.
Amongst a group of people the want to do better grows with the steady competition between themselves. “I was more and more certainly becoming the best student, in the school; Phineas was without the question the best athlete… The new attacks of studying were his emergency measures to save himself. I redoubled my effort”(Knowles, pg.55). Gene has convinced himself that Phineas is out to bring him down. Consequently making himself work harder to prove to Phineas he is better. At some point in everyone’s life they have needed to face someone else and try their absolute best to beat. This obstacle could seem like your greatest opposition, but quite possibly end up helping you later on.
As the competition progresses so does the people involved, even thriving together. “He drew me increasingly away …show more content…
“Since so much of learning anything depends on the atmosphere in which it is taught, Finny and I, to our joint double amazement, began to make flashing progress where we had been bumblers before”(pg. 119). Both these boys went from arguing with each other to helping the other with their weakness. Working to only gain for yourself will make others less apt to help you and problems will build up crushing any light to a solution. Hence, in the long run working with others, no matter the conflict, will aid both parties by sharing ideas and