Dysotopian Novel remains unique despite similarities
Divergent is the first novel of author Veronica Roth’s trilogy. It takes place within the city limits of a futuristic Chicago. However this Chicago is very different than the one modern day people would imagine. Buildings stand in shambles, streets are nearly vacant, and resources such as fresh produce are limited.
The government decided to divide its land and people into five different factions based upon honorable virtues. The factions are as follows: Abnegation for the selfless, Dauntless for the brave, Erudite for the pursuer of knowledge, Candor for the truthful, and Amity for the Peaceful.
The main character Beatrice Prior (Shailene Woodley), who later changes her name to Tris, discovered throughout the story this theoretically utopian society has many flaws. Among them is the constant political battle between Abnegation and the Erudite over the right of leadership.
When the teenagers of this society turn sixteen years old, they are forced to participate in a ritualistic event called the Choosing Ceremony where they choose which faction they want to live in. During the test, it is here that Tris is determined Divergent: a person who does not fall under any of the factions but is considered dangerous.
Trying to remain hidden from the authority, Tris picks Dauntless, abandoning her previous faction and taking the city wide motto “Faction over Family.”
Along the way Tris falls in love with an eighteen year old Dauntless leader, Four (Theo James), originally names Tobias in Abnegation. Inside the Dauntless compound, Tris discovers that Tobias is Divergent, like herself.
Together the two discover a secret plan by the Erudite to place everyone in the society under a serum that made them unconscious to whatever was happening around them, but were at the will of the Erudite.
Due to being Divergent, Tris and Tobias were unaffected by the Erudite Serum. After a dramatic series of events Tris destroys the computers that controlled the Dauntless. However, the gruesome battle left many dead including her mother, father and a close friend.
Although, Divergent sounds similar to other popular teen books of the day, in particular The Hunger Games, Roth created a completely different universe. The book was laced with sensory details that made it easy to visualize characters and events. I believe that Roth succeeded in creating a fictional society that followed rational patterns of human thought and history.
However, along with the books suspenseful action often came darkness, such as the suicide, murder and a few other negative elements. Among some of the books other flaws, in my opinion is predictability. In certain circumstances Tris seemed to miss obvious details in her deductions.
There was a sense of the unknown in this book that was designed to keep the reader intrigued. There are some of questions that I have after reading the book that I am anticipating will be answered during the rest of the book series.
Although, Tris encountered circumstances different than the average teen, she dealt with the same problems, like family and friends acceptance, finding an identity, and strength in the midst of hardship. These similarities, among many others, draw the world of Divergents closer to that of our own and creates a relatable and compelling story.
This thrilling novel will be in theaters March 21.
For more reviews, read the Dec. 14 article Second ‘Hobbit’ introduces new characters, special effects.
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