Roth, Veronica — Divergent 01 — Divergent
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
by Veronica, Roth,The chapter opens with Tris regaining consciousness in an unfamiliar room, disoriented and in pain from injuries sustained during an attack. She notices Four tending to his own wounds in the bathroom, recalling only a fragmented memory of being carried by him. Their interaction is tense yet intimate, as Tris reaches out to touch his cut lip, revealing a growing emotional connection. Four explains he intervened after hearing her scream, leaving Drew severely injured in the infirmary while Peter and Al fled. Tris feels a mix of anger and vindication, though she struggles to reconcile her violent impulses with her moral compass.
As Tris processes the trauma of the attack, Four offers pragmatic advice, urging her to feign vulnerability to avoid further conflict with her peers. He emphasizes the importance of safety over pride, suggesting she display her bruises to deter future aggression. Tris resists the idea, feeling nauseated at the thought of showing weakness, especially after the violation she endured. Four’s demeanor shifts when he learns the extent of the assault, his anger palpable as he silently processes the information. The tension between them underscores their unspoken bond and shared fury.
Four’s guidance takes a darker turn as he encourages Tris to bide her time for revenge, whispering, “Ruin them” with a predatory intensity. This moment reveals his protective instincts and willingness to defy Dauntless norms for her sake. Tris laughs nervously at his intensity, lightening the mood, but the exchange hints at deeper feelings neither is ready to articulate. Their banter about his nickname (“Four”) and her question about what to call him instead adds a layer of unresolved tension, leaving their relationship ambiguous yet charged.
The chapter closes with Tris grappling with physical pain and emotional turmoil, while Four’s presence serves as both comfort and a catalyst for her inner conflict. His final words—“Nothing. Yet.”—suggest a future reckoning with their feelings and the unresolved threats around them. The scene masterfully blends vulnerability with defiance, setting the stage for Tris’s evolving identity and the escalating stakes of her Dauntless journey.
FAQs
1. What physical and emotional state is Tris in when she wakes up in Four’s room, and how does Four respond to her condition?
Answer:
When Tris wakes up, she experiences intense physical pain in her head, cheek, and ribs, along with disorientation as she takes in her surroundings. Emotionally, she feels vulnerable and angry about the attack. Four responds with a mix of practicality and subtle care—he tends to his own wounds first, then provides her with an ice pack and helps her sit up. His demeanor is calm but intense, offering advice about vulnerability while validating her feelings. Notably, he shows physical gentleness (like skimming her cheekbone with his thumb) and emotional support by encouraging her to express pain, saying, “It’s just me here.”
2. How does Four’s advice to Tris about handling the aftermath of the attack reveal his understanding of Dauntless social dynamics?
Answer:
Four advises Tris to show calculated vulnerability—letting her bruise show at breakfast—rather than defiant strength. This reflects his deep understanding of Dauntless hierarchy and jealousy dynamics. He recognizes that displaying invincibility would escalate tensions, while visible vulnerability might reduce perceived threats to others’ egos. His insight that Al attacked Tris because her “strength made him feel weak” underscores his grasp of toxic masculinity and insecurity within the faction. However, he balances this tactical approach with a promise of future retaliation (“Ruin them”), showing his dual role as both strategist and ally.
3. Analyze the significance of the line “I feel the sight of him in my gut, like a deep ache” in the context of Tris and Four’s evolving relationship.
Answer:
This line captures Tris’s conflicted attraction to Four, blending physical and emotional intensity. The “deep ache” suggests longing and unresolved tension, heightened by their charged interactions in this scene (her touching his lip, his hand on her face). It marks a shift from seeing Four as just an instructor to someone who elicits visceral reactions. The moment also contrasts with their usual guardedness—Four’s care for her injuries and his rare emotional openness (“It’s just me here”) create intimacy, foreshadowing deeper connection. The ache symbolizes both desire and the pain of their complex circumstances.
4. Why does Four insist Tris shouldn’t report the attack, and what does this reveal about their shared values?
Answer:
Four discourages reporting the attack because Tris wants to avoid appearing scared, and he respects her pride in self-reliance (“I figured you would say that”). This aligns with their shared disdain for victimhood and preference for personal agency. However, Four’s later insistence on safety over pride (“more important for you to be safe than right”) shows his protective side. Their compromise—delayed retaliation—highlights a mutual belief in justice but divergent approaches: Tris’s impulsiveness versus Four’s strategic patience. Ultimately, both value strength but are learning to balance it with trust in each other.
5. How does the chapter use physical touch to develop tension between Tris and Four? Provide specific examples.
Answer:
Physical touch escalates tension throughout the scene:- Tris hovers her hand near Four’s cut lip, then touches it—an intimate gesture crossing typical instructor-student boundaries.
- Four’s “cold and strong” hand on her cheek while urging her to “ruin them” blends tenderness with intensity, mirroring their emotional push-pull.
- His careful assistance in sitting her up contrasts with his usual aloofness, showing vulnerability.
Each touch carries subtext—concern, attraction, or unspoken promises (“Yet”)—deepening their connection while leaving unresolved tension. The juxtaposition of pain (her injuries, his bloody knuckles) and gentleness underscores their complex dynamic.
- Tris hovers her hand near Four’s cut lip, then touches it—an intimate gesture crossing typical instructor-student boundaries.
Quotes
1. “‘I could report this,’ he says. ‘No,’ I reply. ‘I don’t want them to think I’m scared.’”
This exchange highlights Tris’s determination to maintain her strength and pride despite being attacked, showing her refusal to appear vulnerable even when she’s clearly hurt. It reveals a key aspect of her character and the Dauntless values she’s embracing.
2. “‘He hurt you because your strength made him feel weak. No other reason.’”
Four’s analysis of Al’s motivation for attacking Tris provides psychological insight into the dynamics between the characters. This quote encapsulates the theme of power and insecurity that runs through the faction system.
3. “‘It is more important for you to be safe than right, for the time being. Understand?’”
This pragmatic advice from Four represents a turning point where Tris must balance her instinct to fight back with strategic vulnerability. The quote captures the tension between principle and survival that defines much of the novel’s conflict.
4. “‘But please, when you see an opportunity… Ruin them.’”
Four’s intense directive shows his protective side while also revealing the ruthless undercurrent of Dauntless culture. This moment foreshadows future confrontations and establishes the emotional stakes between Tris and her attackers.
5. “‘What should I call you, then?’ ‘Nothing.’ He takes his hand from my face. ‘Yet.’”
This intimate exchange hints at the developing romantic tension between Tris and Four while maintaining their characteristic restraint. The “yet” suggests future emotional openness between them.