Allegiant
Chapter Thirty-Eight
by Roth, VeronicaTobias observes the bustling activity outside the dormitory as GDs prepare airplanes for takeoff. He engages in lighthearted banter with Cara about her failed truth serum experiment on Tris, joking about Tris’s stubbornness. Their conversation shifts to Tris’s unexpected arrival, visibly distressed after a council meeting. The playful tone gives way to tension as Tris reveals the council’s plan to reset the experiments using a memory-erasing serum, leaving Tobias and Cara alarmed by the ethical implications.
Tris explains the council’s intention to deploy the memory serum virus across the experiments, effectively erasing their memories. As she processes this revelation, Tobias notices her internal conflict—unlike Cara, who reacts with certainty, Tris grapples with moral ambiguity. The group debates the council’s overreach, with Tobias arguing against the violation of autonomy. Cara sarcastically suggests replacing the scientists, but Tris, struck by inspiration, proposes an alternative: using the same serum to reprogram the Bureau’s leaders instead.
Tris’s idea gains momentum as she outlines how resetting the Bureau could eliminate their prejudice against GDs and prevent future threats to the experiments. Cara raises practical concerns about erasing essential knowledge, but Tris believes targeted memory alteration is possible, citing Matthew’s expertise. Tobias, however, interjects with a moral objection, pointing out the hypocrisy of forcibly altering memories—a mirror of the council’s own plan. His intervention forces Tris to pause and reconsider the ethical weight of her proposal.
The chapter ends on a cliffhanger as Tobias physically blocks Tris’s path, shielding his eyes from the glare of airplane wings. His challenge underscores the central dilemma: whether the ends justify the means. The scene captures the group’s ideological divide—Cara’s pragmatism, Tris’s desperate ingenuity, and Tobias’s principled resistance—setting the stage for a pivotal decision about power, memory, and consent.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of Tris being immune to the new truth serum, and what does this reveal about her character?
Answer:
Tris’s immunity to the truth serum is significant because it suggests she possesses either unique genetic traits or an extraordinary level of mental resilience. Cara notes that it’s “very strange” for someone’s genes to make them resistant to mind manipulation, while Tobias humorously suggests it might be due to her “superhuman stubbornness.” This immunity highlights Tris’s strong will and independence, traits that have defined her throughout the series. It also foreshadows her potential resistance to the Bureau’s memory serum, positioning her as a key figure in resisting their plans.2. How does the dynamic between Tobias, Tris, and Cara reflect their shared experiences and personalities?
Answer:
The interaction among Tobias, Tris, and Cara reveals their shared trauma and contrasting coping mechanisms. Cara, sharpened by loss, is certain and analytical, while Tris remains uncertain and questioning despite her pain. Tobias observes this difference, admiring Tris’s ability to approach problems with openness. Their banter (e.g., Cara’s joke about Tris’s nose) shows camaraderie, but the underlying tension reflects their grief and moral dilemmas. This dynamic underscores how their personalities shape their responses to the Bureau’s threat—Cara seeks logical solutions, Tris grapples with ethics, and Tobias balances emotional support with critical thinking.3. Analyze the ethical dilemma posed by Tris’s proposal to use the memory serum on the Bureau. How does it mirror the Bureau’s own plans?
Answer:
Tris’s proposal to reset the Bureau’s memories creates a moral paradox: while she opposes the Bureau erasing the experiments’ memories, she considers doing the same to them. Tobias points out this hypocrisy, noting it’s “the same thing they’re planning to do.” The dilemma forces readers to question whether the ends (preventing future harm) justify the means (violating autonomy). Tris argues that reprogramming the Bureau without “propaganda” could protect the experiments permanently, but Cara raises practical concerns about losing essential knowledge. This mirrors real-world debates about power, revenge, and whether oppressive systems can be reformed without becoming what they oppose.4. How does the imagery of the airplanes and the “afternoon light winking” contribute to the chapter’s tone and themes?
Answer:
The airplanes, described as “gleaming and poised for flight,” symbolize both impending danger (carrying the memory serum) and potential escape or rebellion. The “winking” light suggests fleeting opportunities and the urgency of the characters’ decisions. This imagery creates a tense, anticipatory tone, emphasizing the countdown to the Bureau’s attack. The planes also represent the Bureau’s technological control, contrasting with the characters’ vulnerability. By framing scenes with these visuals (e.g., Tobias watching them while talking to Tris), the chapter underscores themes of power, surveillance, and the race against time.5. Evaluate Tobias’s role in this chapter as both a supporter and a critic of Tris. How does this reflect their relationship’s complexity?
Answer:
Tobias balances unwavering support for Tris (e.g., calming her agitation, admiring her resilience) with critical pushback (e.g., challenging her memory serum plan). His duality shows their mature dynamic—he respects her leadership but doesn’t blindly follow. His humor (“superhuman stubbornness”) and protectiveness (smoothing her hair) reveal deep care, while his ethical objections force Tris to reconsider. This reflects their relationship’s growth: they’re partners who challenge each other, not just allies. His introspection (“I should probably admire more”) also highlights his self-awareness, making him a moral anchor amid Tris’s impulsiveness.
Quotes
1. “It’s very strange that a person’s genes would make them so resistant to mind manipulation of any kind.”
This quote from Cara highlights Tris’s unique genetic immunity to truth serums, which becomes a crucial plot point. It introduces the theme of genetic exceptionalism and foreshadows later discussions about memory manipulation.
2. “She still approaches everything with a question instead of an answer. It is something I admire about her—something I should probably admire more.”
Tobias’s reflection on Tris’s intellectual humility contrasts with Cara’s certainty, showing a key character dynamic. This philosophical difference becomes central to their moral dilemma about memory manipulation.
3. “They can’t erase everyone. They shouldn’t have the power to do that.”
Tobias’s vehement objection to the Bureau’s plan establishes the ethical conflict at the chapter’s core. This principle later gets tested when Tris proposes using the same method against the Bureau.
4. “Reset the Bureau, and reprogram them without the propaganda, without the disdain for GDs. Then they’ll never risk the memories of the people in the experiments again.”
Tris’s radical solution represents the chapter’s turning point, flipping the ethical dilemma on its head. This proposal forces characters to confront whether their ends justify morally questionable means.
5. “You really want to erase the memories of a whole population against their will? That’s the same thing they’re planning to do to our friends and family.”
Tobias’s challenge to Tris encapsulates the chapter’s central moral paradox. This moment crystallizes the tension between justice and hypocrisy that drives the narrative forward.