What is the novel's view of war's impact on innocence?

• A. War erodes personal innocence and reveals complexities in friendship and identity.
• B. War preserves innocence by reinforcing discipline.
• C. The novel treats war as a distant backdrop with no personal consequences.
• D. War has no impact on personal relationships.

Answer: (A)

War intrudes on the boys’ sheltered world, showing that innocence isn’t simply preserved but is easily unsettled by fear, competition, and moral ambiguity. The looming war outside Devon School makes Finny’s cheerful denial of reality feel naïve, while Gene’s hidden insecurity and jealousy bubble to the surface in a moment that harms Finny, revealing how fragile trust in a friendship can be when bigger forces press in. When Leper goes to war and later returns changed, the personal costs become even clearer, illustrating how conflict pulls relationships into harsher, more complicated territory. The novel uses these shifts to show that innocence is eroded by war, exposing flaws, loyalties, and questions of guilt and identity.