Insurgent
Chapter Twenty
by Veronica, RothThe chapter opens with Tris anxiously awaiting a meeting between Jeanine and Jack Kang, counting down the hours while dining with Tobias, Lynn, and Lauren in the cafeteria. Tension is palpable as Tobias endures whispered insults of “coward” from passing Dauntless members, a result of his public Candor interrogation. Despite the provocation, Tobias remains composed until his focus shifts abruptly to Marcus, his abusive father, sitting among Candor members. Tris senses impending trouble as Tobias moves with purpose toward Marcus, signaling a confrontation fueled by deep-seated rage.
Tobias violently attacks Marcus, dragging him to the center of the room and beating him with a belt in a chillingly methodical manner. The scene mirrors the abuse Tobias suffered as a child, now reversed as he delivers the blows while quoting Marcus’s own justification: “This is for your own good.” The Dauntless onlookers laugh, but Tris is horrified, eventually intervening to stop the assault. Tobias coldly drops his mother’s wedding ring near Marcus, declaring, “My mother says hello,” before walking away, leaving Tris stunned by his calculated brutality.
In the aftermath, Tris confronts Tobias in the hallway, demanding an explanation for his actions. Tobias defends himself, asking if she suddenly pities Marcus after ignoring his struggles for weeks. He reveals the attack was a deliberate reenactment of his own trauma, a twisted retaliation for years of abuse. Tris recognizes the parallels between Tobias’s inner turmoil and her own capacity for cruelty, realizing both harbor destructive impulses that both sustain and endanger them. The exchange leaves her shaken, unable to reconcile the Tobias she knows with the vengeful stranger before her.
The chapter ends with Tobias shutting Tris out, closing the elevator doors between them as she grapples with the implications of his actions. The encounter underscores the darker aspects of their personalities and the fractures in their relationship. Tris is left to ponder the fine line between survival and self-destruction, as well as the consequences of unresolved pain. The scene sets the stage for further conflict, highlighting the emotional and moral complexities of their world.
FAQs
1. What triggers Tobias’s violent outburst against Marcus in this chapter, and what does this reveal about his character development?
Answer:
Tobias’s attack on Marcus is triggered by Dauntless members calling him a “coward” and the cumulative trauma of his abusive past. This reveals a regression in his character development—instead of overcoming his father’s influence, he replicates Marcus’s abusive behavior in a calculated manner. The scene mirrors his fear landscape, where Marcus always says, “This is for your own good,” which Tobias chillingly repeats during the attack. This shows Tobias is still deeply affected by his trauma, though his calm demeanor suggests he’s channeling it deliberately rather than acting purely out of rage.2. How does Tris’s reaction to Tobias’s violence differ from the surrounding Dauntless members, and what does this suggest about her values?
Answer:
While the Dauntless laugh at Marcus’s beating, Tris is horrified and intervenes. This highlights her moral conflict with Dauntless culture’s glorification of violence. Her internal monologue (“I cannot possibly laugh at this”) and physical attempt to stop Tobias demonstrate her retained Abnegation values of compassion and nonviolence. It also foreshadows her growing disillusionment with Dauntless extremism, as she recognizes the cruelty in Tobias’s premeditated actions despite her own capacity for violence in previous chapters.3. Analyze the symbolic significance of Tobias dropping his mother’s wedding ring near Marcus after the attack.
Answer:
The tarnished Abnegation wedding ring symbolizes Tobias’s rejection of his father’s legacy and connection to his mother’s suffering. By returning it with the message “My mother says hello,” Tobias asserts that Marcus’s abuse affected not just him but his entire family. The ring’s dull metal reflects how Marcus’s actions have corroded their family bonds. This moment serves as both a personal reckoning (forcing Marcus to confront his crimes) and a public declaration that Tobias is no longer hiding his past, as he did before the Candor truth serum revelations.4. How does the chapter portray the psychological impact of long-term abuse through Tobias’s behavior?
Answer:
The chapter shows abuse’s cyclical nature through Tobias’s rehearsed violence—he uses the exact moves Marcus taught him, revealing how trauma shapes behavior. His calm demeanor indicates this was a ritualistic confrontation rather than impulsive rage, suggesting years of pent-up planning. The parallel between his fear landscape and real actions demonstrates how abuse victims often mentally rehearse confrontations. Tris’s observation that he “knew it by heart” underscores how deeply these patterns are ingrained, raising questions about whether Tobias is breaking free from or perpetuating his father’s legacy.5. What does the elevator scene reveal about the current state of Tris and Tobias’s relationship?
Answer:
The elevator scene (where Tobias shuts the door on Tris) symbolizes their emotional rift. His accusation—”You haven’t cared about what I do or say for the past week”—reveals accumulated resentment, while Tris’s fear of his unpredictability shows she no longer recognizes him. Their “war inside” parallel suggests their relationship is mirroring their internal conflicts. The physical separation via elevator doors reflects emotional distance, contrasting earlier scenes where they faced problems together. This marks a low point in their relationship, with Tobias rejecting communication and Tris unable to bridge the gap.
Quotes
1. “This needs to stop,” he says distantly, and starts toward whatever it is he’s looking at before I figure out what it is. This can’t be good.”
This quote marks a pivotal moment where Tobias decides to confront his abusive father Marcus. It shows his simmering anger and foreshadows the violent confrontation that follows, representing a breaking point in their strained relationship.
2. “This is for your own good,” he says. That, I remember, is what Marcus, and his many manifestations, always says to Tobias in his fear landscape.”
This chilling quote reveals Tobias deliberately mirroring his father’s abusive language during their confrontation. It highlights the cycle of violence and the psychological scars left by Marcus’s abuse, now being turned back against him.
3. “We both have war inside of us. Sometimes it keeps us alive. Sometimes it threatens to destroy us.”
This profound reflection by Tris captures the central theme of inner conflict that runs through the series. It applies equally to both characters - Tobias’s struggle with his violent impulses and Tris’s own internal battles.
4. “You haven’t cared about what I do or say for the past week; what’s so different about this?”
This quote reveals the growing emotional distance between Tris and Tobias. It shows Tobias’s frustration and sense of abandonment, adding complexity to their relationship amidst the larger faction conflicts.
5. “My mother,” says Tobias, “says hello.”
This powerful closing line to the confrontation carries deep symbolic weight. The returned wedding ring represents both closure and vengeance, marking Tobias’s final rejection of his father and connection to his deceased mother.