Allegiant
Chapter Six
by Roth, VeronicaTobias senses tension brewing among the factionless as he observes their hushed conversations in the cafeteria. He recalls overhearing Evelyn mention a “demonstration,” which makes him question her trust in him. While eating breakfast, he notices a group of factionless acting nervously, particularly a young girl who keeps checking the clock. Suddenly, shouts erupt, and the factionless rush outside, where a crowd has gathered to protest against the faction system, chanting “Death to the factions!” Their anger is palpable, and Tobias follows, curious about the commotion.
The protest centers around the overturned faction bowls from the Choosing Ceremony, their contents spilled and mingling on the road. Edward, a factionless leader, begins destroying one of the bowls with a sledgehammer, which distresses Tobias, as the bowls symbolize his personal defiance and escape from his past. An Erudite man attempts to stop Edward, leading to a physical struggle. Tris, witnessing the chaos, tries to intervene but is held back by Christina. Edward, overpowering the Erudite man, accidentally strikes him with the sledgehammer, causing severe injury and igniting a violent frenzy in the crowd.
Amid the chaos, Tobias wrestles the sledgehammer from Edward and knees him aside, then tries to reach Tris. The situation escalates when gunshots ring out, scattering the crowd in panic. Tris and Christina tend to the injured Erudite man, who lies motionless, while Edward is revealed to have been shot in the gut. Other bystanders are also injured or trampled, suggesting the bullets were targeted at Edward. Tobias searches for the shooter but finds no trace, leaving the scene shrouded in uncertainty.
In the aftermath, Tobias kneels beside Edward, who is still alive but gravely wounded. The chapter ends abruptly, leaving the consequences of the protest and Edward’s fate unresolved. The violence underscores the deepening divisions between the factionless and those clinging to the old system, with Tobias caught in the middle, torn between his past allegiances and the unfolding rebellion. The scene sets the stage for further conflict and raises questions about trust, loyalty, and the cost of resistance.
FAQs
1. What signs does Tobias notice that suggest something significant is about to happen among the factionless?
Answer:
Tobias observes several ominous signs indicating impending action: factionless members huddling together in whispered conversations, a young girl nervously checking the clock, and Evelyn’s mention of a “demonstration” that she deliberately kept from him. These clues create a tense atmosphere, suggesting coordinated plans are underway. The most telling moment comes when shouts erupt and the factionless spring into action, confirming Tobias’s suspicions that a major event was brewing. This demonstrates his perceptiveness and the growing unrest among the factionless population.2. How does the destruction of the Choosing Ceremony bowls symbolize the factionless’ rebellion?
Answer:
The violent destruction of the faction bowls represents a direct attack on the faction system’s foundations. Edward smashing the bowls with a sledgehammer while the crowd chants “Death to the factions!” visually embodies their rejection of the entire social order. For Tobias, this is particularly painful as he remembers the bowls representing his personal liberation from Abnegation. The mingling of the faction elements (coals, glass, stone, earth, water) physically demonstrates their desire to erase faction boundaries, making this act both symbolic and literal rebellion against the old system.3. Analyze the significance of the Erudite man’s intervention and its consequences.
Answer:
The Erudite man’s attempt to stop Edward represents the last gasp of faction loyalty in the face of the factionless uprising. His “soft, ink-smudged hands” contrasting with Edward’s strength highlights the cultural divide between intellectual Erudite and physical factionless. His severe injury (a shattered shoulder from the sledgehammer) and subsequent trampling demonstrate the dangerous escalation of tensions. This incident triggers the crowd’s violent frenzy and ultimately the shooting, showing how individual acts of resistance can have catastrophic consequences in volatile situations. His fate serves as a warning about the costs of opposing the factionless movement.4. How does Tris’s reaction to the violence differ from Tobias’s, and what does this reveal about their characters?
Answer:
Tris immediately tries to help the injured Erudite man, showing her instinctive compassion and Dauntless-trained response to crisis. In contrast, Tobias initially freezes (“I can’t think; I can’t breathe”) before methodically disarming Edward. While Tris focuses on aiding victims, Tobias concentrates on neutralizing threats. Their reactions reveal core character traits: Tris’s empathy and courage versus Tobias’s strategic thinking and emotional conflict (his hesitation stems from divided loyalties). Their differing approaches complement each other, as seen when Tobias ultimately moves toward Tris after securing the sledgehammer.5. What does the chapter reveal about the growing tensions between different groups in the society?
Answer:
The chapter vividly portrays society’s fracturing along three lines: 1) factionless versus former faction members (seen in the chanting crowd versus the Erudite protester), 2) generational divides (young factionless activists versus more cautious elders), and 3) ideological splits within groups (Evelyn keeping secrets from Tobias). The shooting incident escalates these tensions, with anonymous violence replacing organized conflict. The trampling of bystanders shows how easily chaos erupts, while the targeted shooting of Edward suggests premeditated faction retaliation. These developments foreshadow greater violence as power structures completely collapse.
Quotes
1. “Something is brewing. I can feel it as I walk the cafeteria line with my tray, and see it in the huddled heads of a group of factionless as they lean over their oatmeal. Whatever is about to happen will happen soon.”
This opening line sets the tense, anticipatory mood of the chapter, foreshadowing the coming conflict. Tobias’s observation highlights the growing unrest among the factionless and the inevitability of confrontation.
2. “Death to the factions, death to the factions. I see their fists in the air, like excitable Dauntless, but without the Dauntless joy. Their faces are twisted with rage.”
This quote captures the violent energy of the factionless uprising and their rejection of the faction system. The contrast with “Dauntless joy” emphasizes the dark, angry nature of this movement.
3. “I remember slicing into my palm to add my blood to the coals, my first act of defiance against my father. I remember the surge of power inside me, and the rush of relief. Escape. These bowls were my escape.”
This reflective moment reveals Tobias’s personal connection to the faction symbols being destroyed. It shows how the ceremony represented both rebellion and freedom for him, making Edward’s destruction of the bowls particularly painful.
4. “Then the crowd explodes into a frenzy, everyone running toward the bowls, toward Edward, toward the Erudite man. They collide with one another and then with me, shoulders and elbows and heads hitting me over and over again.”
This visceral description marks the turning point where peaceful demonstration becomes violent chaos. The physicality of the language immerses readers in the terrifying mob mentality of the scene.
5. “His remaining eye moves back and forth beneath his eyelid—he’s alive, for now.”
This stark observation about Edward’s condition underscores the brutal consequences of the uprising. The matter-of-fact tone contrasts with the horror of the situation, emphasizing the cold reality of violence.