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    Allegiant

    by Roth, Veronica
    “Allegiant” by Veronica Roth is the final installment in the dystopian Divergent trilogy. The story follows Tris Prior and Tobias Eaton as they venture beyond the confines of their fractured city, uncovering a shocking truth: their society is an experiment designed to repair damaged genetic traits. The novel explores themes of identity, sacrifice, and the consequences of rebellion as Tris and Tobias confront a new conflict between the genetically “pure” (Divergent) and “damaged” individuals. The dual-perspective narrative deepens character development, culminating in a tragic yet thematically resonant conclusion that challenges notions of freedom and human nature. Roth’s world-building expands significantly, revealing the broader scope of the series’ dystopian setting.
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    Allegiant

    Chapter Eighteen

    by Roth, Veronica

    The chap­ter opens with Tobias observ­ing the morn­ing rou­tines of his com­pan­ions, not­ing their dis­tinct behav­iors as they wake. He reflects on the unfa­mil­iar­i­ty of their shared liv­ing space and the odd­i­ty of wear­ing clothes with­out fac­tion-based sig­nif­i­cance. His inter­nal con­flict about attend­ing his father’s tri­al lingers in the back­ground, adding ten­sion to the oth­er­wise mun­dane scene. Tris, already alert and rest­less, reveals she’s been giv­en her late mother’s jour­nal, a dis­cov­ery that both intrigues and unset­tles her due to its poten­tial to reveal hid­den truths about her Abne­ga­tion upbring­ing.

    Tris’s hes­i­ta­tion to read the jour­nal stems from her fear of uncov­er­ing uncom­fort­able truths about her moth­er, a sen­ti­ment Tobias under­stands. He relates to her desire to process the infor­ma­tion pri­vate­ly, draw­ing par­al­lels to his own avoid­ance of his father’s tri­al. Their con­ver­sa­tion shifts to whether Tris should share the jour­nal with her broth­er Caleb, high­light­ing the com­plex­i­ties of famil­ial bonds and trust. Tobias’s inter­nal mono­logue reveals his ingrained habit of with­hold­ing infor­ma­tion, con­trast­ing with Tris’s more open yet cau­tious approach.

    The dynam­ic between Tris and Tobias light­ens as they engage in play­ful ban­ter over a muf­fin, show­cas­ing their affec­tion­ate rela­tion­ship. Tris then broach­es the top­ic of a genet­ic test, explain­ing that a researcher named Matthew is inter­est­ed in Tobias’s unique Diver­gent traits. Though ini­tial­ly wary, Tobias agrees, part­ly to dis­tract him­self from the impend­ing tri­al. Their inter­ac­tion under­scores his grow­ing will­ing­ness to trust Tris, even as he grap­ples with dis­com­fort over the inva­sion of pri­va­cy.

    The chap­ter con­cludes with the sud­den arrival of George Wu, Tori’s broth­er, whose excit­ed demeanor hints at an unre­solved plot thread. Tobias’s instinc­tive urge to dis­tance him­self from George’s impend­ing grief fore­shad­ows dark­er devel­op­ments. The scene leaves read­ers with a sense of unease, bal­anc­ing the per­son­al inti­ma­cy of Tris and Tobias’s rela­tion­ship with the broad­er, loom­ing con­flicts of their world.

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    FAQs

    • 1. How does Tobias describe the morning routines of his companions, and what does this reveal about their personalities?

      Answer:
      Tobias observes distinct morning behaviors that reveal character traits: Christina is cheerful, Peter wakes with perfectly flat hair (suggesting vanity or neatness), and Cara communicates only through grunts while seeking coffee (indicating she’s not a morning person). These observations show Tobias’s perceptiveness and highlight how even mundane routines can provide insight into personality. The passage establishes contrast between their natural behaviors and the artificial faction identities they left behind, emphasizing their authentic selves emerging in this new environment.

      2. Why is Tris hesitant to read her mother’s journal, and what deeper significance does this hold?

      Answer:
      Tris fears the journal because it represents one of the few authentic glimpses into her Abnegation mother’s true self. As Tobias reflects, Abnegation parents typically conceal their personalities behind selfless acts, making this journal exceptionally revealing. Tris’s hesitation stems from both the emotional weight of connecting with her deceased mother and the potential discomfort of discovering unexpected truths. The moment carries profound significance as it represents Tris confronting her past and her identity, with the journal serving as a bridge between her faction upbringing and her evolving self-understanding.

      3. Analyze the significance of clothing descriptions in this chapter and how they relate to themes of identity.

      Answer:
      When Tobias changes into the provided clothes (black shirt and blue jeans), he notes the colors are mixed “like they don’t mean anything here,” contrasting sharply with the faction system where clothing colors held deep symbolic meaning. This detail underscores the theme of identity transition - in Chicago, clothing visually declared faction allegiance, but in the Bureau, clothing carries no such significance. Tobias’s conscious effort to “convince himself it feels normal” reveals his struggle to adapt to an identity not defined by external markers, mirroring the characters’ broader challenges in redefining themselves beyond faction boundaries.

      4. What internal conflict does Tobias face regarding his father’s trial, and how does this connect to his decision about the genetic test?

      Answer:
      Tobias wrestles with whether to watch Marcus’s trial, indicating unresolved feelings about his abusive father. This emotional avoidance directly influences his decision to undergo the genetic test - he chooses the physical intrusion of genetic examination over the psychological pain of confronting his father’s judgment. The parallel between these decisions reveals Tobias’s coping mechanism: he prefers tangible challenges (like the test) over emotional ones. His description of genes as feeling “like asking me to strip down” shows he views both situations as vulnerable exposures, just of different aspects of his identity.

      5. How does the interaction between Tris and Tobias with the muffin reveal the nature of their relationship?

      Answer:
      Their playful exchange over the muffin - with Tris stealing pieces despite available food and Tobias pretending to protest - demonstrates their comfortable intimacy. The physical contact during the muffin theft leads naturally to a kiss, showing how affection intertwines with everyday interactions. Tobias’s observation that hiding things is “as natural as breathing” contrasts with his willingness to share food (and later, his genetic material) with Tris, symbolizing how she’s changed him. Their teasing dynamic reveals a relationship built on trust and mutual enjoyment rather than the guardedness characteristic of Tobias’s usual behavior.

    Quotes

    • 1. “Abnegation children rarely know their parents in any significant way, because Abnegation parents never reveal themselves the way other parents do when their children grow to a particular age. They keep themselves wrapped in gray cloth armor and selfless acts, convinced that to share is to be self-indulgent.”

      This quote provides a profound insight into the Abnegation faction’s culture, explaining why Tris struggles with her mother’s journal. It highlights the emotional distance inherent in Abnegation parenting and sets up the significance of Natalie Prior’s recovered writings.

      2. “The impulse to share anything is a new one, the impulse to hide as natural as breathing.”

      This line beautifully captures Tobias’s internal conflict about vulnerability and trust. It contrasts his Dauntless-trained instinct for secrecy with his growing willingness to open up to Tris, showing his character development.

      3. “Asking to see my genes feels a little like asking me to strip down.”

      This metaphorical statement reveals Tobias’s discomfort with the genetic testing proposal. It underscores the deeply personal nature of identity exploration in the story and foreshadows future revelations about his divergence.

      4. “She covers my hand with her own, which is warm and strong, and the corners of her mouth curl into a smile.”

      This tender moment between Tris and Tobias provides a respite from the chapter’s heavier themes. It demonstrates their growing intimacy and serves as a quiet but powerful counterpoint to the surrounding tension about family secrets and genetic testing.

    Quotes

    1. “Abnegation children rarely know their parents in any significant way, because Abnegation parents never reveal themselves the way other parents do when their children grow to a particular age. They keep themselves wrapped in gray cloth armor and selfless acts, convinced that to share is to be self-indulgent.”

    This quote provides a profound insight into the Abnegation faction’s culture, explaining why Tris struggles with her mother’s journal. It highlights the emotional distance inherent in Abnegation parenting and sets up the significance of Natalie Prior’s recovered writings.

    2. “The impulse to share anything is a new one, the impulse to hide as natural as breathing.”

    This line beautifully captures Tobias’s internal conflict about vulnerability and trust. It contrasts his Dauntless-trained instinct for secrecy with his growing willingness to open up to Tris, showing his character development.

    3. “Asking to see my genes feels a little like asking me to strip down.”

    This metaphorical statement reveals Tobias’s discomfort with the genetic testing proposal. It underscores the deeply personal nature of identity exploration in the story and foreshadows future revelations about his divergence.

    4. “She covers my hand with her own, which is warm and strong, and the corners of her mouth curl into a smile.”

    This tender moment between Tris and Tobias provides a respite from the chapter’s heavier themes. It demonstrates their growing intimacy and serves as a quiet but powerful counterpoint to the surrounding tension about family secrets and genetic testing.

    FAQs

    1. How does Tobias describe the morning routines of his companions, and what does this reveal about their personalities?

    Answer:
    Tobias observes distinct morning behaviors that reveal character traits: Christina is cheerful, Peter wakes with perfectly flat hair (suggesting vanity or neatness), and Cara communicates only through grunts while seeking coffee (indicating she’s not a morning person). These observations show Tobias’s perceptiveness and highlight how even mundane routines can provide insight into personality. The passage establishes contrast between their natural behaviors and the artificial faction identities they left behind, emphasizing their authentic selves emerging in this new environment.

    2. Why is Tris hesitant to read her mother’s journal, and what deeper significance does this hold?

    Answer:
    Tris fears the journal because it represents one of the few authentic glimpses into her Abnegation mother’s true self. As Tobias reflects, Abnegation parents typically conceal their personalities behind selfless acts, making this journal exceptionally revealing. Tris’s hesitation stems from both the emotional weight of connecting with her deceased mother and the potential discomfort of discovering unexpected truths. The moment carries profound significance as it represents Tris confronting her past and her identity, with the journal serving as a bridge between her faction upbringing and her evolving self-understanding.

    3. Analyze the significance of clothing descriptions in this chapter and how they relate to themes of identity.

    Answer:
    When Tobias changes into the provided clothes (black shirt and blue jeans), he notes the colors are mixed “like they don’t mean anything here,” contrasting sharply with the faction system where clothing colors held deep symbolic meaning. This detail underscores the theme of identity transition - in Chicago, clothing visually declared faction allegiance, but in the Bureau, clothing carries no such significance. Tobias’s conscious effort to “convince himself it feels normal” reveals his struggle to adapt to an identity not defined by external markers, mirroring the characters’ broader challenges in redefining themselves beyond faction boundaries.

    4. What internal conflict does Tobias face regarding his father’s trial, and how does this connect to his decision about the genetic test?

    Answer:
    Tobias wrestles with whether to watch Marcus’s trial, indicating unresolved feelings about his abusive father. This emotional avoidance directly influences his decision to undergo the genetic test - he chooses the physical intrusion of genetic examination over the psychological pain of confronting his father’s judgment. The parallel between these decisions reveals Tobias’s coping mechanism: he prefers tangible challenges (like the test) over emotional ones. His description of genes as feeling “like asking me to strip down” shows he views both situations as vulnerable exposures, just of different aspects of his identity.

    5. How does the interaction between Tris and Tobias with the muffin reveal the nature of their relationship?

    Answer:
    Their playful exchange over the muffin - with Tris stealing pieces despite available food and Tobias pretending to protest - demonstrates their comfortable intimacy. The physical contact during the muffin theft leads naturally to a kiss, showing how affection intertwines with everyday interactions. Tobias’s observation that hiding things is “as natural as breathing” contrasts with his willingness to share food (and later, his genetic material) with Tris, symbolizing how she’s changed him. Their teasing dynamic reveals a relationship built on trust and mutual enjoyment rather than the guardedness characteristic of Tobias’s usual behavior.

    Note