[(essay date September 1975) In the following essay, Travis identifies commonalities between A Separate Peace and Gunter Grass'sCat and Mouse.]
Mirror Images in A Separate Peace and Cat and Mouse
Considering John Knowles' short novel A Separate Peace1 and Gunter Grass' novelle Cat and Mouse,2 one is surprised that the numerous mirror images in the two short works have not been noted.3 The setting of the latter reflects many properties of the former. Among them are school, compact proximity of neighborhood streets and homes, playing field, figures of leader and followers, references to diving, background of the same war, mention of troop ships, a precociousness in the leader's voice (with Finny, it's a "cordial, penetrating voice, that reverberant instrument in his chest"; with Mahlke, the prominence of the Adam's apple), binding friendship between the two main figures in each novelle, and gramophonic music where the fellows gather (dormitory of the earlier work; subterranean alcove of the later).
The character Mahlke resembles Phineas not only in his sincerity, innocence, and tendency to be followed, but also in the specific problems at school, where he--like Phineas--encounters disciplinary difficulties with faculty. Whereas Phineas is not forgiven for missing a meal, Mahlke has psychologically similar disputes over underwear. In both cases the "calm ignorance" and "careless peace" disturb the instructors. Numerous other delineations of character are comparable. An emblem worn by Phineas and admired by all is reflected in the screwdriver suspended from Mahlke's neck. In each story the narrator feels complimented by being chosen as the leader's best friend; yet both Gene and Pilenz view with suspicion if not envy the absence of sarcasm in their "best" friends. While Mahlke acquires only later in youth the...