Themes and Analysis

‘Divergent’ by Veronica Roth exhibits various themes, symbols, suspense, plot twists, and figurative devices, contributing to its enjoyment as a mystery novel. Presented below is an analysis of the literary elements within the book.

Choice and Identity

For author Veronica Roth, ‘Divergent‘ is a book about self-identity, and choosing to be who you are. As the characters in the novel are mostly adolescents and young adults, they are at the stage in their lives when they are trying to find identities for themselves and decide the type of personality they have, the group they are best at identifying with, and where they fit best. Veronica Roth raises many important questions about identity, including questioning how we choose an identity, the viability and advantages of choosing the same identity as someone else, and what happens if we want to change identities.

In the future dystopian society of ‘Divergent,’ people only get one chance to choose their identities, a process that readers will recognize as absurd. When the city’s residents turn 16, there’s an elaborate ritual that culminates in the 16-year-olds choosing one of five “factions” to live with for the rest of their lives: the Abnegation, the Candor, the Dauntless, the Erudite, and the Amity.

Each faction corresponds to a specific personality type; the Dauntless are bold, aggressive, and brave, the Abnegation are selfless, the Erudite are super smart, the Erudite are scholars, and the Candor are open and truthful. In the ceremony, the city’s adolescents make a permanent choice about what kind of people they want to be, then they spend the rest of their lives living up to it.

The protagonist of ‘Divergent,’ Beatrice “Tris” Prior, who is Divergent, stands out because she is a sympathetic character. She is relatable to the average adolescent and and young adult reader with her ability to switch between personalities which makes her unable to stick to one faction. She can’t make up her mind about what kind of person she wants to be. At times, she thinks she truly belongs among the Dauntless, and at other times she’s convinced that she’s most comfortable among the people of Abnegation, who are selfless and self-sacrificing.

Although there are only very few people in Tris’ society who are Divergent, she soon realizes that there is no one in her society who truly has one fixed identity, everyone is at least a little Divergent. This failure to stick with a single identity also afflicts even the characters who are seen as the people with the most Dauntless or Abnegation characteristics, such as Tobias or Natalie, Tris’ mother, who are revealed to have other identities, hidden beneath the ones they display to the public.

The point in ‘Divergent’ isn’t that Natalie is a Dauntless pretending to be Abnegation or Abnegation pretending to be Dauntless. Throughout the book, Tris bounces back and forth between different factions but she recognizes that she’ll have to go beyond any one of these factions. Identity, she decides is an ongoing process.

Fear and Bravery

The first lesson Tris learns during the time she spends training with the Dauntless is how to confront her deepest fears and control them. This is also the basic lesson Dauntless initiates who were not born in the faction learn after they join. The core beliefs of the Dauntless culture are built around the belief that the most basic problem with the human race is cowardice. Thus, the path to success and peace in a society is the mastering of one’s fears and becoming brave. In ‘Divergent’ we see Tris’ growth and development. We are shown her coming of age through her understanding of her place in Dauntless and her increasing control over her fears.

One of the most important points made by ‘Divergent’ is that everybody feels fear, no matter who they are. Tris and her peers go through rigorous training, during which they’re made to vividly experience their fears. Every one of the recruits is shaken by this challenge: fear is their common denominator, bringing them closer together. One could even say that fear is the most fundamental thing about the characters, to the point that some, like Four, of them are named after their fears.

In the story of ‘Divergent’ we get to see that the meaning of bravery is not the complete absence of fear, but that bravery requires coming to terms with fear and dealing with it even when there are no chances of victory in sight. In the course of their Dauntless training, Tris is injected with a hallucinogenic serum that makes her experience her worst fears, but in time Tris teaches herself how to cope with and embrace her fears. She accepts that she’ll always be frightened of the same things, like drowning and losing her family. Instead of trying to hide from these fears, she chose to accept them as a part of her life.

Because she’s Divergent, Tris found it easier to stay sane during the Fear Landscape than other Dauntless cadets, he was able to reach through the program and remind herself that she is hallucinating. Tris’ courage and composure in the face of fear make her seem mature and adult-like to her peers among the Dauntless, and to readers.

However, Tris’ struggle to come to terms with her fears has far-reaching consequences beyond just excelling at her training. Her struggle also represents one of her greatest strengths as a heroine. While other members of Dauntless, including the cadets, are easily manipulated by the propaganda released by the Erudite faction, Tris stays true to her convictions, recognizing that they are trying to scare the other factions into obedience.

In general, Tris is not as susceptible to manipulation and scare tactics as other members of her faction. This is largely due to her immense courage. Another factor is her Dauntless training, which has taught her to accept fear instead of trying to bury it altogether. Everyone feels fear, Tris included. But Tris is special: she learns how to deal with her fear and channel it productively.

Analysis of Key Moments

1. Beatrice chooses to join Dauntless over her birth faction Abnegation. This sets the tone for the exploration of identity and individuality.
2. Beatrice changes her name to “Tris”. This symbolizes her transition from her old life to a new, less predictable identity.
3. Tris leaps from the moving train to mark her initiation into Dauntless, and her first step into a new world of challenges.
4. Tris faces trials, like the fear simulation and combat training, testing her mental and physical strength.
5. Tris forms a friendship with Christina, which provides emotional support and underscores the bonds formed in the face of adversity.
6. The connection between Tris and Four evolves, showcasing trust and mutual respect beyond mere romance.
7. Peter’s betrayal during the initiation tests demonstrates the ruthlessness some will adopt to succeed.
8. Tris’ inconclusive test result hints at her Divergence, setting up the mystery behind her unique identity.
9. Tris goes through her first simulation experience which reveals her fears. This introduces the concept of conquering one’s inner demons.
10. Tris’ tactical thinking during the game showcases her adaptability and resilience.
11. With her unexpected rise in the rankings, Tris challenges faction expectations and exposes the limitations of labels.
12. Tris’ gradual growth and acceptance within Dauntless emphasize her transformation and integration.
13. Tris’ abduction by the Erudite faction propels the story toward its climax and highlights the power struggle.
14. Tris’ decision to offer herself as a sacrifice for her loved ones underscores her selflessness and courage.
15. The revelation of the faction system’s origin as an experiment disrupts the characters’ understanding of their reality.
16. Tris’ final confrontation with Jeanine exposes the power struggle between factions and resolves the immediate conflict.

Style, Tone and Figurative Language

In Veronica Roth’s ‘Divergent,’ the writing style, tone, and use of figurative language are pivotal in creating an atmosphere of tension, intrigue, and exploration within the dystopian narrative.

Roth’s writing style exhibits a descriptive quality that vividly creates a dystopian world in the minds of readers. The factions’ distinct environments, the imposing architecture of the Dauntless headquarters, and the societal divisions are shown with careful detail. This immersive description creates a rich setting for the story and propels readers into the heart of the story.

The tone of ‘Divergent’ experiences a transformation somewhat like Tris’ personal evolution. It starts with an undercurrent of curiosity and unease as Tris navigates her initiation into the Dauntless faction. As the story progresses, the tone evolves to one of suspense and apprehension, mirroring Tris’ increasing awareness of the faction-based society’s flaws. The revelation of Tris’ Divergence intensifies the tone, charging the story with urgency and intrigue. The transitions between Tris’ internal monologue and the external events cultivate a sense of connection with her emotional journey.

Analysis of Symbols

Tattoos

After each milestone in her life, Tris gets a tattoo. Each tattoo has a different and specific symbolic meaning. She gets a tattoo of the Dauntless symbol to celebrate the fact that she’s finally feeling at home among the Dauntless. In general, Beatrice’s tattoos symbolize her desire to form an identity for herself: tattoos remind her of who she is, and inspire her to be strong and true to her principles. Thus, her first tattoo represents her family, symbolizing her continued allegiance to her old life in Abnegation; her second tattoo is Dauntless, symbolizing her love for her new community.

Divergence

The most conspicuous symbol in Divergent is also one of the most complex. Tris is Divergent, meaning that she doesn’t have a strong allegiance to any one of the five factions: on the contrary, she has qualities that align her with more than one of the factions. Divergence also suggests a unique mental state that isn’t fully explained in the novel, as Divergent people like Tris and Tobias can resist mind control and hallucinations that affect those more immersed in their factions.

At first, Tris believes that she’s alone in being Divergent. But as the book moves on, it becomes increasingly clear that she isn’t unique at all. She’s surrounded by people who have secret identities or hidden loyalties, including her mother, Natalie Prior, who is also Divergent. In this sense, Divergence symbolizes human beings’ inability to be grouped into stable categories and fixed identities. Nobody is brave, kind, or honest 100 percent of the time, and the society that tries to pretend otherwise is doomed to break down.

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