Desperately searching for a place to express one's true self and past is a major factor in creating internal conflict. Additionally, as one approaches the age of majority, they are usually placed in a competitive environment surrounding them with their peers. At private boarding schools, students are under more pressure, feeling the weight of their family's dependence on their success, the need to outperform others, and the realization that their future will be shaped through their experiences as they progress toward adulthood. This essay analyzes how the novels A Separate Piece by John Knowles and Old School by Tobias Wolff illustrate the internal struggles of the main characters as they face pressure to maintain a false personality to interact with their classmates. To then achieve their goals of success, Gene and the narrator's internal conflicts are presented as they obsess over gaining positive recognition, become paranoid about how their peers perceive them, and unconsciously succumb to the jealousy. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Once one begins to rely on the approval of others, then one can become insecure, expect to always succeed, and beat up every failure. While he initially develops a sense of accomplishment whenever he is complemented by his best friend, Gene, from A Separate Piece, gradually interprets Phineas' praise as a form of jealousy. When he first receives a bad grade on an exam after being taken to the beach by Phineas, Gene begins to suspect that any innocent action initiated by him was a form of sabotage, stating, "Finny had deliberately set out to destroy my studies… It was cold deception, everything was calculated, everything was enmity.” Gene's immediate reaction in believing this conclusion shows his internal conflict, initially committing to believing that his best friend was conspiring against him, rather than simply praising him. Additionally, throughout the chapters leading up to the accident, Gene is forced to repeatedly remind himself that Phineas is his best friend, later hoping to preserve his faltering friendship while ultimately pretending he is not. the cause. The narrator exhibits a similar reaction in his jealousy of his classmates and his belief in self-righteousness in his actions. Additionally, the narrator's internal conflict expands and makes him appear ignorant – outwardly rejecting the idea of ​​telling others about his Jewish heritage and believing in an imaginative form of superiority. Rather than naturally devoting himself to writing his own story, the narrator also expects to create a masterpiece in the final days of the deadline by copying various works on his typewriter. Subsequently, this form of practice leads the narrator to unwittingly plagiarize another student's work, and when he is accused of stealing the story, he apologizes by saying, "I'm sorry...I don't "I don't understand... Even with the proof in hand, even knowing that someone named Susan Friedman had written the story, I still considered it mine." As he is initially unaware of his wrongdoing, this scene from the novel describes how internal conflict can cloud his perception and make mistakes that ultimately damage his reputation. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized paper from our expert now. Basing their relationships on.