Parallels Between Looking for Alaska and A Separate Peace

[Cyokie]

Is anybody else very interested in the parallels between A Separate Peace by John Knowles and Looking for Alaska by John Green? (I wasn't sure which category to put this in, so I placed it in the category for the latter.)

Of course, there ARE major differences in the two books--they're not the same book, after all--but the more I think about it, the more similar their plots are. I feel as though Alaska is like a female Phineas (she's seen through a more objective lens than he is, hence the MUCH more extensive insight on her flaws and mental instability). And Chip reminds me of Brinker a little bit.

Both books are about a boy who goes to a boarding school (Gene/Miles) expecting to just make it through by conforming, but then he meets an attractive, rebellious, fun-loving student (Phineas/Alaska) who teaches him to enjoy his life and be spontaneous. However, their relationship is complicated by one-sided emotions and doubts: The boy doesn't believe he deserves the other student's attention, and he at times resents the other student's carelessness. This isn't even getting to how the boy idealizes the other student, obsessing over a shadow that only represents part of who they are while conveniently ignoring everything else.

Eventually, the boy makes a decision that indirectly leads to the other student's death, and he's forced to grapple with his guilt and questioning over whether it should really be considered his fault. He doesn't know how much about the other student he (or anyone) understood before they died, especially regarding their mental health and how much of their behavior was a facade. Though not without struggling, the boy comes to accept the other student's death, which allows him to come to terms with several things about himself and the world around him.

Thoughts? Any other parallels you guys can think of?