What about post-war experience makes him feel crazy in A Separate Peace by John Knowles?

In A Separate Peace by John Knowles, Gene Forrester experiences a sense of madness due to his post-war experiences. Post-war, he is haunted by the loss and violence he witnessed during the war, specifically through the death of his friend Phineas. Being one of the few survivors, he struggles to comprehend and come to terms with the senselessness of war and its aftermath.

Knowles explores the emotional and psychological effects of war on the human psyche, using Gene as an example of how even individuals fortunate enough to survive are deeply impacted by the trauma. Gene feels detached and alienated from society and feels like an outcast in the world. This sense of madness and disorientation is a reflection of the turmoil within him and the scars left by his post-war experiences.