How is Gene proud in A Separate Peace by John Knowles?

Part of the definition of the word "proud" on dictionary.com is "showing a high opinion of one's own dignity, importance, or superiority." With this definition in mind, Gene certainly does have a feeling of self-importance at different times in A Separate Peace. Like any teenager, he is also conflicted between feeling inferior to others in his peer group. In an effort not to feel so poorly, however, Gene seeks for an understanding of himself that produces feelings of pride. One such instance where Gene...

Part of the definition of the word "proud" on dictionary.com is "showing a high opinion of one's own dignity, importance, or superiority." With this definition in mind, Gene certainly does have a feeling of self-importance at different times in A Separate Peace. Like any teenager, he is also conflicted between feeling inferior to others in his peer group. In an effort not to feel so poorly, however, Gene seeks for an understanding of himself that produces feelings of pride. One such instance where Gene is prideful is in chapter 4 when he argues with Finny about studying rather than going outside to play. Gene redoubles his efforts to enhance his academic skills to offset the fact that Phineas is the best athlete at school. Finally, Gene comes to a conclusion about himself and Phineas:

"I was more and more certainly becoming the best student in the school; Phineas was without question the best athlete, so in that way we were even. But while he was a very poor student I was a pretty good athlete, and when everything was thrown into the scales they would in the end tilt definitely toward me"(55).

The quote above certainly shows Gene painting himself in a better light than he probably deserved. It's this very prideful and competitive attitude that drives the darkness in him to come out during a moment of weakness--when he jounces Phineas out of a tree that breaks his friend's leg. Ironically, Gene is also proud to be Finny's best friend, even though he loses sight of it for a time. A while before the above-mentioned argument between the boys, Gene says the following:

"He (Phineas) got away with everything because of the extraordinary kind of person he was. It was quite a compliment to me, as a matter of fact, to have such a person choose me for his best friend"(29).