Abraham Maslow, a famous psychologist, was born April 1, 1908 in Brooklyn, New York. He was born to uneducated Jewish immigrants who moved to America from Russia. Maslow became interested in psychology and attended City College of New York, then later wed his first cousin, Bertha Goodman. While studying psychology, Maslow theorized that people have certain needs that need to be fulfilled and classified these needs to form The Hierarchy of Needs. The Hierarchy of Needs is divided into two sections, Meta needs and basic needs, and five levels that include physiological, safety, belonging and love, esteem, and self-actualization. In order to move up a level, one must fulfill all needs from the lower levels. Throughout the novel, A Separate Peace, Gene Forester shows characteristics of various levels of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs when he goes to relive his past, is blamed for the injury of his best friend, and when he finally relieves himself from years of guilt.
When Gene revisits his childhood asylum, Devon School, he experiences the characteristics of the esteem level. While in this level, Gene experiences feelings of competence, recognition, and a good reputation. As Gene recollects his adolescent days, he remembers his friends, teachers, and familiar places like the tree beside the river and marble staircase in the hall. "I jumped into space and then crashed into the water. My legs hit the soft mud of the bottom, and immediately I was on the surface being congratulated" (9). Gene thinks as he remembers jumping off of a branch into a lake one summer. Another example of Gene in the esteem level is how he has a good reputation. Mr. Forester is a bright and intelligent young man who gets along with everyone and does not cause any trouble. He helps his friend, Finny, with his homework and rarely gets scolded. Gene fits the characteristics of Maslow's esteem level because he shows traits of the level throughout his physical actions and emotional feelings.
