In A Separate Peace by John Knowles, one of the main characters, Phineas, refused to face reality having both negative and positive consequences. As students at an upper-class private school, in New England, Devon, Phineas and his best friend Gene were both sheltered from World War II and other current events. But when Phineas returns to school after having shattered his leg, he finds himself alone in an alternate reality. He becomes withdrawn from his …showed first 75 words of 391 total…

…showed last 75 words of 391 total…personality gave Gene the impression that; “He could . . . shine at many . . . things, with people for instance, the others in our dormitory, the faculty; in fact, if you stopped to think about it, [Phineas] could shine with everyone, he attracted everyone he met.” And so by not facing reality, Phineas maintained his cool, popular appearance, but was not able to cope with the truth, having both positive and negative consequences on his life, and Gene’s.