Divergent Movie/Book Series (BEWARE OF SPOILERS)

[LtColCarter]

I was searching for threads on the Divergent movie/book series, but I couldn't find any. So, I thought I'd start one.

The Divergent movie and book series is a pretty good dystopian series. I'm currently teaching the first novel of the series to my high school students and they are loving it.

Any thoughts on either the movie or book series?

[LtColCarter]

Analysis of Chapters 1-3

In the first three chapters, we are thrown right into Beatrice's world of factions with only little bits of explanation here and there; mostly we learn how things work as Beatrice narrates her daily life. Her world is a stark contrast of our own. In Divergent, young adults only make one major decision in their life - which faction to choose. Their life up until that point has been predetermined by the faction they were born into. Life afterwards is also rigidly constructed, and each person must follow the rules and roles of their chosen faction. The course of a person's entire life if determined on Choosing Day. Roth begins with the mirror anecdote in order to quickly illustrate the disparity between the real world and that of the novel: who can imagine only being allowed to look in a mirror a few times a year? The tone immediately is balanced between fantasy and coming-of-age.

On the cusp of adulthood, Beatrice Prior has characteristics of other major Young Adult protagonists, as well as the average teenaged reader. She is curious and unsure of herself, conflicted between serving her family and honoring her own desires, and yearning for possibility. In the world of Divergent, however, these traits are dangerous. We get a sense that Beatrice is going to be different from everyone else just by the way her inner turmoil over her life in Abnegation and which faction to choose is emphasized throughout the first and second chapters, before she takes her test. While everyone else is described as Abnegation through and through, especially Beatrice's own family, in the first chapters, she has a lot of trouble deciding whether or not her childhood faction is the place she wants to spend the rest of her life. It's pretty clear from the start that this decision will very difficult for her, and her choice will mean sacrificing a part of herself. This is a classic theme of coming-of-age works, as it relates to the choices young men and women must make in their own lives.

Beatrice's familial relationships are interesting to note as well. It seems like Abnegation do not place as much emphasis on familial love as we do in present day, probably because love can sometimes be seen as selfish. Beatrice clearly admires her mother for her adherence to the Abnegation way of life, but it's difficult to recognize an archetypal mother-daughter connection. It seems that Beatrice is closer to her brother, Caleb, over other members of her family, which makes sense because of how close in age they are, but even they don't have a typical brother-sister dynamic because of their upbringing.

The theme of choice and identity is established right away; though perhaps the gravity of the choice Beatrice has to make will be more evident in the next few chapters. The students wait in extreme anxiety to take their aptitude tests, because after all, the results could determine the rest of their lives. Even the nature of the aptitude test expresses the importance of choices defining your identity; in order to determine her faction match, Beatrice has to choose between the cheese and the knife, choose to save herself of save the child from the dog, and choose whether or not to lie to the man on the bus. The man's words at the end of the chapter serve to accentuate this theme even further: "Choose wisely, little girl." Beatrice must be wise, because this choice will determine what type of person she will become.

As is often the case with a novel's early chapters, there is a lot of foreshadowing. Tori's warning that Divergence is very dangerous and should be kept secret will certainly come into play later in the novel, and as previously stated, her discontentment with her Abnegation life signifies that she will choose to leave her childhood faction. Caleb's discomfort after leaving his aptitude test must mean something as well; clearly Beatrice isn't the only one with surprising results.

[thekillman]

Any thoughts on either the movie or book series?

Way too heavy on the school department, and the basic premise just turned me off.

[LtColCarter]

Way too heavy on the school department, and the basic premise just turned me off.

Not sure what you mean about the "school department."

[LtColCarter]

Analysis Chapters 4-6

At the Choosing Ceremony, both Tris and Caleb were forced to choose the type of person they wanted to be; not an easy task, but one that was necessary for them to continue forward in this society. This choice will form their identity, and neither wants to be identified as the selfless and unassuming Abnegation they were for sixteen years of their lives. They both realize that in order to discover who they truly are, they have to leave their family behind. In an amplified way, this mirrors the choice every young adult must make when they leave adolescence. Even in a fantasy novel, the theme of adulthood looms large.

It is interesting to note that while both siblings chose to transfer, neither informed the other of their plans; in Tris's case, she assumed Caleb would never think of transferring from Abnegation, but what about Caleb? He clearly knew something was going on in Tris's mind when he told her she had to think of herself, so why didn't he say he was experiencing the same conflict? Did he not trust her enough to keep it to herself? Or is it just too risky as an Abnegation to talk about switching to Erudite? This says something about both Caleb's character and the nature of the feud between Abnegation and Erudite; both are more complex than we realize. This also communicates an inherent flaw in the society's design. The test results are meant to be secret, the first step towards indoctrinating the initiates into this society - a society ruled by "faction before blood". This sentiment is meant to strengthen the bonds within the factions, but often comes at the cost of one's familial ties. This idea will become fleshed out in later chapters.

In these chapters, Tris's character develops more as she begins to discover her true identity. The bravery required to leave her faction and switch to Dauntless is the first sign that she made the right decision, but she still has a lot more to prove. Her characterization continues to show through the various tasks she has to do before she even reaches the compound; jump onto the train, jump onto the building, and in particular, jump off of the building. That Tris was the first to do so speaks volumes about her determination and drive, and the reaction of the Dauntless at the bottom foreshadows that during initiation, Tris will be one to watch out for.

Then there's her decision to change her name: a name is the most central part of a person's identity, and most people typically do not get the luxury of choosing it for themselves. The name her parents chose for her, Beatrice, certainly suited her for the first phase of her life, but a modest and traditional name cannot continue to represent her as she moves into her new life in Dauntless. Because a name symbolizes identity more so than anything else, by choosing her own name, Tris chose her own identity—and it will be up to her to live up to it. Again, this idea of changing one's name signals the weakening of the family bond.

It is also necessary to take notice of the exchange between the initiates and the Amity boy, who says he won't jump because he would rather be factionless than dead. Tris disagrees, and this simple thought illustrates how ingrained the faction system is in these children; they are nothing without their faction. Faction before blood, plain and simple. Faction before everything. Are the factionless really as poor and misguided as Tris makes them out to be, or is that idea simply a way of brainwashing citizens into staying completely loyal to their factions - and to the system itself?

Lastly, Chapter 4 establishes the book's overarching villain - Jeanine Matthews. Whether or not what she says about Marcus Eaton is true, it's pretty clear that she's tying to stir up trouble and dissent between Abnegation and the other factions. Erudite's status as a faction of geniuses is used to gain power by spreading opinion - or propaganda - throughout the city. The truth is beside the point. The rift between the two factions is part of her larger plan, which will come to pass later in the novel.

[thekillman]

Not sure what you mean about the "school department."

It's a typical highschool analogy. Jocks, nerds, populars, and people who seem to be friends with everyone. Plus, all that "you are put in a faction and forever are part of it" AKA "you study something and then are forever going to do that".

Divergence is basically an analogy to teen angst about how life in school forever determines the rest of their lives.

[garhkal]

I was searching for threads on the Divergent movie/book series, but I couldn't find any. So, I thought I'd start one.

The Divergent movie and book series is a pretty good dystopian series. I'm currently teaching the first novel of the series to my high school students and they are loving it.

Any thoughts on either the movie or book series?

For the movies. i very much liked the first.. Insurgent i felt was a let down though.. I am still looking forward to #3.

[LtColCarter]

It's a typical highschool analogy. Jocks, nerds, populars, and people who seem to be friends with everyone. Plus, all that "you are put in a faction and forever are part of it" AKA "you study something and then are forever going to do that".

Divergence is basically an analogy to teen angst about how life in school forever determines the rest of their lives.

That may be part of it. However, it is a dystopian novel. It is a very narrow view to say it is just about teen angst. There is a lot more than that going on if you read the series.

[LtColCarter]

For the movies. i very much liked the first.. Insurgent i felt was a let down though.. I am still looking forward to #3.

I'm curious...how did you feel it was a let down? I felt it was slow to start, but it seemed to pick up momentum.

[garhkal]

I felt there should have been more in fighting between the factions, rather than just her rebels and that one in power..
Also felt there should have been a bit more expansion on the backstory somewhat.

[LtColCarter]

I felt there should have been more in fighting between the factions, rather than just her rebels and that one in power..
Also felt there should have been a bit more expansion on the backstory somewhat.

You'll learn more about the backstory in Allegiant. And of course, there is a lot left out of the movies that is included in the book. For example, Edward with a butter knife to the eye...

[LtColCarter]

Analysis Chapters 7-9

The setting of the novel has undergone a major shift; before, set in the Abnegation sector, it was calm, dull, and predictable, and now in the Dauntless compound, it's much darker, harsher, and uncertain. The dark, hidden underground Pit suits the murkiness that lies ahead for the initiates; will they make it through initiation, or will they fail and become factionless? Gone are the days when Tris knew exactly what to expect from her life in Abnegation; in Dauntless, no part of her future is set in stone.

During her first days as a Dauntless initiate, we watch as Tris begins to develop true friendships that will play a huge role in determining her identity. Christina's blunt honesty and tough, lively personality will certainly balance out Tris well, and hopefully assist her in coming out of her Abnegation shell even more. She seems to be becoming friends with Al and Will as well. Al is kind and gentle but Will is not afraid to make fun of her. Through these friends, Tris will be able to laugh at herself and recognize her goodness. The friends Tris chooses will be integral in her journey through initiation, but at the same time, they are her greatest competition—after all, only ten of them will make it through initiation, and they've got a lot of Dauntless-born initiates to contend with.

From the moment Eric is introduced, it is pretty clear that he is meant to serve as Four's foil. He represents everything that Four is not; he's clearly power hungry, while Four turned down an opportunity for a higher rank. He is entirely cruel to the initiates, while Four is only tough when he needs to prove a point. As Tris notices, Eric represents the ruthless bravery that Dauntless has come to value, while Four stands for the more honorable kind that the faction was founded on. It appears that something in their past may have prompted this negative relationship, but regardless, Eric has already begun to bring out Four's valiant qualities by contradicting them in every way possible. Their conflict also signals a broader conflict about to grip the city - between and within the factions themselves.

The nature of bravery is an important motif in the novel. Through Four and Eric, Tris is presented with two opposing viewpoints. On the one hand, bravery can be standing up for oneself, finding your inner strength, or being a good friend or teammate. On the other hand, bravery has been corrupted into a "survival of the fittest" that makes those deemed weak prey. Tris will have to choose what bravery means to her, and how it will manifest in her life. But for now, she must continue to discover herself during initiation, so that she is able to form her own opinion and act accordingly.

It's interesting that the Dauntless have equated black clothing, crazy hair colors and cuts, tattoos, and body piercings with bravery. In their society, nonconformist or outrageous appearances help each Dauntless differentiate themselves from their companions and stand out in a crowd. In Dauntless, appearance is an extension of oneself, and styles that other factions (or our own world) may find shocking are a shorthand for daring. Though, it can be said, that all Dauntless dress in a similar manner, which somewhat negates the specialness tattoos and hair color are meant to evoke. Nevertheless, the Dauntless style is a representation of personal identity, perhaps moreso than in our own society; their tattoos represent their past, present, and future, and carry meaning far more significant than the tattoos people today get for aesthetic purposes. Tris slowly warms up to these styles, allowing Christina to apply makeup and buy her more revealing clothing. Her tattoo, however, still links her to her family, so she has not entirely shed her Abnegation skin - even if it now is inked.

[LtColCarter]

Analysis Chapters 10-12

Contrary to what she believes, having an enemy like Peter really does bring out the best in Tris; he is quickly becoming the novel's most apparent antagonist for the time being, and all the work she puts into combating him brings out the Dauntless qualities that she needs to cultivate in order to make it past initiation. Though he physically bested her during their fight, the beating motivates Tris to do better next time, and this tenacity is a huge part of her character. In addition, her loss reminds her and the readers that she isn't home free yet. Despite the attention she got from being the first jumper, she still has a long way to go these next few weeks.

Tris's encounter with Robert accentuates the faction divisions that are ever-present; though all children from all factions were allowed to attend school together before Choosing Day, as initiates and official faction members they are kept apart. A good question to keep in mind while continuing to read is whether the factions have always been this divided, or whether friction has magnified over the years, just like Dauntless's gradual shift towards a more ruthless kind of bravery. That Tris isn't even allowed to exchange a few words with a childhood friend without falling under scrutiny shows how heavily present these divisions are, and how absolute that choice they made on Choosing Day is.

There's a bit of foreshadowing here when Tris notices that the lock is on the outside of the gate, rather than the inside; though she dismisses her suspicions as nothing, it would be wrong of us as readers to do the same, because it would not have been mentioned if it did not mean something. Are the factions really being kept isolated from the outside world for their protection, or for some other reason? This is another question to keep in mind throughout the rest of the novel, as the world unfolds for both Tris and the readers.

Chapter 12 is an integral part of the story; here, Tris finally starts to become Dauntless in a way that she hasn't before. Though she may not yet have the strength and fighting skill she will need to develop if she's going to make it through initiation, she has the intelligence and resourcefulness necessary for strategizing in dangerous or demanding situations, the likes of which Dauntless are often thrown into. The praise she receives from even the Dauntless-born initiates shows that she is truly beginning to fit in; she may have made the right choice after all.

And then, of course, her feelings for Four are beginning to blossom. Up on top of the ferris wheel, away from the stress and pressure of initiation where he is her leader, she finally begins to realize that being around him makes her feel like she's going to "burst into flames". This is the first time she really allows herself to notice her feelings. It's clear Tris and Four share a bond beyond instructor and initiate, but there may be some danger for both of them. Harboring feelings for her initiation leader may be a distraction, and Four is clearly struggling against Dauntless leadership. At this point, she can't afford to have anything get in her way, but Tris is also a young woman. This plot ushers in another coming-of-age for Tris - her "initiation" into romantic relationships.

[LtColCarter]

Analysis Chapters 13-16

In this section, Tris is beginning to grow more and more comfortable in her new Dauntless skin, and we see it in the way she agrees to take Al's place during target practice; this was an act of courage that lives up to the values of the old Dauntless. She's growing more confident in training, and more capable of fighting her own battles. Not only is she mentally changing, but she's even physically changing as well; the muscles she noticed becoming prominent in her legs symbolize how much her new identity has developed since she arrived in Dauntless. She is no longer the same scrawny, scared girl she was when she came in.

The scene in which Peter pulls down Tris's towel serves as a representation of Tris's lingering fears of vulnerability; though she is becoming more and more Dauntless as every day passes, she still hasn't shaken off all of her insecurities about her choice and about her skill as an initiate. When Peter pulls down her towel, she was completely vulnerable, at the mercy of remarks from people who have hated her from the start. Her response to such a situation says a lot about her; rather than succumb to the embarrassment, it made her even more determined to show everyone up in initiation. Her discomfort with nudity also mirrors her agitation over her feelings about Four. Tris is still on the cusp of womanhood.

The events that take place on Visiting Day illustrate both the theme of family and the theme of secrets and lies. For the initiates, this day is a struggle to separate faction loyalty from familial love; they have such ties to the people visiting them, and yet they've become so different in their time in Dauntless that they could never truly be who they once were with their parents and siblings. This is especially true for Tris; in the span of a week or two, the family she once knew has completely fallen apart. Caleb is in Erudite and neither of their parents are allowed to visit, and Tris is stuck in the middle of a grueling Dauntless initiation. Mr. Prior feels too betrayed to even look at his children, and Mrs. Prior is trying to bridge the gap somehow. In the process of developing their identities, the Prior children have unintentionally torn apart their family.

But Natalie's visit reveals that not only is Tris wrapped up in a web of secrets about her aptitude test results, but her mother has told her fair share of lies as well. Would it really be that dangerous for her to have told Tris that she was originally from Dauntless? Is there a reason she keeps this hidden? This will certainly have some significance later on in the story, but for now, we are constrained by Tris's point of view; we know only as much about her mother as she does - and, clearly, that is not much.

If the Dauntless initiation competition was fierce before, the release of the stage one rankings increases the intensity tenfold. With four initiates gone, those remaining can't ignore the fact that they must beat their friends in order to survive. To lose would mean, in Tris's eyes, a fate worse than death. An interesting character to analyze is Peter; before he was merely an obnoxious bully, but stabbing Edward in the eye has elevated him to a whole new level of antagonism. What could possibly drive a person to be that cold, cruel, and ambitious? Is there something hidden deep within his past that could shed light on his evil demeanor? Whatever the case, there is certainly more than Peter than meets the eye, and he's become an even bigger threat than ever before. Edward's stabbing and the lack of punishment illustrates how far Dauntless has strayed from its original ethos. Ruthlessness and brutality are now tolerated if not tacitly endorsed.

[LtColCarter]

Analysis Chapters 17-20

The moment that Tris zip lines down the Hancock building is a pivotal point in the story; not only is she becoming Dauntless herself, but she's convincing other people that she is, too. Part of our identity is others' impressions of us, whether we like it or not; Tris could never truly become the person she's chosen to be with the rest of the faction looking down on her for being a Stiff. If Tris is ever going to be accepted in Dauntless, it's imperative that she branch out beyond her small group of transfers, and that night she did.

The second stage of initiation is unlike the first in every way, and tests the initiates in ways they didn't even think they could be tested. By constantly facing their fears every single day, the initiates will learn to overcome them; it seems much more relevant to their grand purpose in Dauntless. It's interesting that Four has admitted that Dauntless initiation never used to be this difficult, and at last we have confirmation that the shift has been caused by a ruthless change in leadership. There may be hope of reforming the faction, and it is clear that it can only come at the hands of people like Four and Tris.

We're slowly starting to learn more about Four's character, but he's still extremely mysterious, and clearly he's got some hidden secrets of his own. He knows of Divergence, either because he is, or he was close to someone who was. His past is also very murky; did he come from Dauntless, or another faction? And why is he so determined to avoid the Abnegation faction? This air of mystery surrounding the eighteen-year-old instructor is undoubtedly part of the allure that pulls Tris to him.

But they must learn to let their guards down in order for something true to blossom. However, they have quite a ways to go before their barriers are broken down. At this point, strength is synonymous with Dauntless, and Tris and Four both must keep up appearances.

We've encountered a shift in the novel at this section, just like initiation has shifted from stage one to stage two. Before, Tris was merely another contender in this vicious competition, and a mediocre one at best. She was learning the ropes, making friends, and developing a new identity just like everyone else. Now, though, the mood has become darker and more ominous as Tris begins to delve deeper into herself. The simulations are increasingly more violent and terrifying. And, of course, Tris's Divergence is coming more and more into play. For the first time, we get a concrete explanation as to why it's so dangerous to be Divergent: because the Dauntless leaders, scared of something the Divergents are capable of, have been discreetly killing them off. There is certainly a different feel to this section of the novel, and Tris has much bigger concerns than just her rank. The stakes are getting higher.

And on an even larger scale, the schism between Abnegation and Dauntless is threatening to destroy the fragile peace between the factions; Erudite are clearly belligerent, judging by the things they've been printing, and their direct attacks against the Abnegation government are impossible to ignore. Will Tris get dragged into this to defend her family's honor and her birth faction? What about her brother, Caleb, who is now an Erudite? She has enough to worry about, what with initiation and death threats for being Divergent, but this problem will undoubtedly find her in some way. For now, knowing only what Tris knows, we must question Erudite's motives behind the rumors and false information they're spreading.