Concerning Finny's and Gene's virtue in A Separate Peace, I'll comment on the winter carnival. I'm not sure "virtue" is the correct word, though. Virtue seems too serious and perhaps has negative connotations that don't seem to fit the situation.
Two elements of the winter carnival can help you here, I think. First, Brinker takes obsessive control of the hard cider he has attained. He arranges for someone else to guard it for him when he himself can't do it throughout the day, and then stands guard over it himself as the boys are about to begin the carnival. Apparently, Finny has arranged--when he gives the word--for everyone to "jump" Brinker and grab the cider. That is how the carnival gets underway. The sense that I get from this is that Finny can't allow anyone to have a false sense of control or security. He's not hurtful, just instructive. Brinker's control was an illusion. Finny, at least on the surface, has a monopoly on illusion. You'll have to read the incident yourself and see what you think.
Second, and more obvious and widely written about, is Finny's vicariously living through Gene. Gene's athleticism is the focus of the carnival. Since Gene can no longer participate in sports, he pushes Gene to do it for him. Gene at first goes along out of a sense of duty, but soon begins to revel in it.
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