Chapter 1:
“Being Divergent makes Everything Harder”
When things are already hard for Beatrice, being a Divergent makes them even harder. The main problem that Beatrice Prior, the protagonist faces is being a Divergent in the already difficult Dauntless initiation. In the sci-fi book Divergent by Veronica Roth, the city of Chicago is divided into five factions. The factions are groupings, each having their own customs and values. You live in your parent’s faction until you turn sixteen. Then, you get to choose your faction.
The day before you choose your faction, you take a test to help you decide where you belong. Beatrice's test results show that she can’t be put into one faction. She fits into three, of the five factions. (20-22) (That’s what Divergent means) Being Divergent is a very rare and special thing. Divergents can’t be categorized into groups. They are aware in simulations and they can manipulate them.
However, being a Divergent is dangerous. This is because the faction leaders are afraid of people who can’t be controlled by groupings, like the faction system. If the leaders find out you’re a Divergent, they usually kill you.
At the choosing ceremony, Beatrice decides to choose Dauntless. When Beatrice is at the faction bowls, about to choose her faction, she tells the reader; “Then, with a gasp that I can’t contain, I shift my hand forward, and my blood sizzles on the coals. I am selfish. I am brave, (47)” Once you choose your faction, you must pass initiation to become a member. If you fail Dauntless initiation, you are kicked out of Dauntless. Then, you become a member of the factionless. Dauntless initiation is pretty horrible on it’s own. On top of this, Beatrice has to hide that she is Divergent. In initiation, you have to do tasks like throw knifes, beat up your friends, jump off high buildings and go through realistic simulations of your fears. To hide that she is Divergent, Beatrice must lie to her friends. For example, when Beatrice’s friends ask about her test results, or what happened to her in the simulations, she must lie. Beatrice also has to be careful, because some faction leaders are suspicious of her being a Divergent.
During her training, Beatrice goes through a fear simulation. After manipulating her simulation, Beatrice's instructor, Four (also known as Tobias) figures out that she is a Divergent. He tells her: “I suspected it last time, but this time it’s obvious. You manipulated the simulation; you’re Divergent. I’ll delete your footage [of her manipulating the simulation], but unless you want to wind up dead at the bottom of the chasm, you’ll figure out how to hide it during the simulations, (255)” Since Four was able to figure out that Beatrice is Divergent, Beatrice had to practice hiding it in the simulations. It is very hard to fake that you aren’t a Divergent in simulations. This is because you must do what a Dauntless person would do. If you aren’t Dauntless, it is very hard to predict what a Dauntless would do. In a fear simulation, your fears are being simulated. That makes it very difficult for Divergents to figure out how they should react.
While tensions are rising between the Abnegation and the Erudite, Beatrice has to be very wary of what she says and does. This is because the faction leaders are taking extreme measures to find Divergents. They are taking these measures, because of the rising tensions. Faction headquarters have cameras everywhere, to help catch Divergents. The faction leaders are watching the footage of every simulation. (310) Some faction leaders are suspicious of Beatrice being a Divergent. At the end of the book, when the Dauntless are under simulations, Beatrice must pretend like she is under one too. A slight difference in behavior could give away that she is Divergent. (418) If the faction leaders were to find out that Beatrice is Divergent, they would probably kill her.
In conclusion, even though it’s special, being a Divergent makes life harder. Throughout the whole series, Beatrice has to be careful of everything she does, to ensure that people don’t learn that she is Divergent. She must be cautious of what she says to people or what she tells them, because it could hint that she is Divergent. Beatrice must also be careful of her actions. If she acts like she is Divergent in some way, people could alert the faction leaders. If the faction leaders find out that Beatrice is Divergent, they would take her and kill her. That means that Beatrice’s life is always at stake. When others are put under simulations, she must fake that she is under them too. She must do exactly what the others do in the simulations. This is because a slight difference in behavior, would give away that she is Divergent. Dauntless initiation is hard on it’s own, but being Divergent while going through it, is even harder.
This is a picture of Beatrice, about to jump off a building.
This is an example of the brutal tasks that are required
in Dauntless initiation.
This is an example of the brutal tasks that are required
in Dauntless initiation.
This is a picture of Beatrice, while knives are being
thrown at her. This is because she spoke out.
The consequences of speaking out in initiation, are very brutal.
thrown at her. This is because she spoke out.
The consequences of speaking out in initiation, are very brutal.
This is a picture of Beatrice in the simulation room,
right before Four finds out that she is Divergent.
right before Four finds out that she is Divergent.