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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 Thirty-Five

    by Roth, Veronica

    Tobias spends his time in the con­trol room mon­i­tor­ing sur­veil­lance footage of the city, search­ing for his par­ents, Eve­lyn and Mar­cus. He observes Eve­lyn strate­giz­ing with her fac­tion­less allies, while reflect­ing on the eerie sim­i­lar­i­ty between the emp­ty night sky out­side the Bureau and the one above the city. Despite his role in dis­abling the secu­ri­ty sys­tem before the attack, the con­trol room staff large­ly ignore him as long as he keeps his dis­tance. His sur­veil­lance reveals noth­ing about the Allegiant’s move­ments, leav­ing him frus­trat­ed and rest­less.

    Cara con­fronts Tobias about his fre­quent vis­its to the con­trol room, ques­tion­ing his motives. She points out his con­tra­dic­to­ry behavior—claiming to hate his par­ents yet obses­sive­ly watch­ing them. Tobias insists they are dan­ger­ous and that he alone under­stands their threat. Cara chal­lenges his pas­sive approach, remind­ing him he’s no longer part of their world. Their exchange high­lights Tobias’s inter­nal con­flict and his strug­gle to move for­ward, even as he remains teth­ered to his past.

    Dur­ing his sur­veil­lance, Tobias final­ly spots the Alle­giant mobilizing—a coor­di­nat­ed group of indi­vid­u­als from var­i­ous fac­tions, includ­ing Ami­ty and Eru­dite, gath­er­ing near an unfa­mil­iar build­ing. Cara alerts the oth­ers, and soon the con­trol room buzzes with activ­i­ty as every­one gath­ers to watch the unfold­ing events. Tobias explains the Allegiant’s com­po­si­tion and their recent raid on a weapons store­house, empha­siz­ing their shared goal of oppos­ing Evelyn’s fac­tion­less regime. The scene under­scores the grow­ing ten­sion and the inevitabil­i­ty of con­flict.

    As the group watch­es the Allegiant’s move­ments, Cara and Tobias dis­cuss the broad­er impli­ca­tions. The Allegiant’s alliance with Eru­dite, despite their past con­flicts, reveals the shift­ing dynam­ics of pow­er. Tobias notes the Amity’s non­vi­o­lent par­tic­i­pa­tion, while the con­trol room staff pro­vide addi­tion­al con­text about the weapons raids. The chap­ter ends with a sense of impend­ing con­fronta­tion, as Tobias and his friends brace for the con­se­quences of the Allegiant’s actions and their own role in the com­ing strug­gle.

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    FAQs

    • 1. What is Tobias doing in the control room at the beginning of the chapter, and what does this reveal about his character?

      Answer:
      Tobias is monitoring surveillance footage of Chicago, specifically searching for his parents (Evelyn and Marcus) and the Allegiant movement. This behavior reveals several aspects of his character: his lingering obsession with his dangerous parents despite claiming to hate them, his protective instincts (wanting to anticipate their next moves), and his struggle to transition to life outside the city. As Cara points out, he’s using this surveillance as both a distraction from his current situation and a way to maintain some sense of control, showing his difficulty letting go of the past.

      2. How does the chapter illustrate the growing conflict between the Allegiant and Evelyn’s factionless government?

      Answer:
      The chapter shows the Allegiant organizing coordinated attacks on weapons storehouses, with members from all factions (including surprising participants like Amity and Erudite) working together against Evelyn’s regime. The Bureau staff reveals this is their second raid, indicating an escalating conflict. The Allegiant’s goal is to overthrow Evelyn and restore the city’s original faction-based purpose. This mirrors Evelyn’s own rise to power, as both sides recognize that controlling weapons equals controlling fear—a power dynamic Tobias explicitly notes when reflecting on his father’s strategy.

      3. Analyze Cara’s role in this chapter—what purpose does her interaction with Tobias serve in the narrative?

      Answer:
      Cara serves as both a truth-teller and bridge between worlds in this chapter. Her perceptive questioning forces Tobias to confront his unhealthy fixation on his parents (“The parents you hate?”), highlighting his emotional conflicts. As an Erudite, she also provides key insights about the political alliances forming (noting Erudite would ally with Allegiant against Evelyn). Their exchange advances two key themes: 1) the difficulty of leaving one’s past behind, and 2) how shared enemies create unlikely alliances. Her comment about Tobias no longer belonging to Chicago’s world underscores the identity crisis all the characters face in the Bureau compound.

      4. What significant development occurs in the surveillance footage that changes the chapter’s tension?

      Answer:
      The pivotal moment comes when Tobias spots coordinated movement on camera twenty-four—the Allegiant assembling like “a flock of birds” around a building. This confirms their transition from a philosophical movement to an armed resistance, evidenced by their synchronized movements and visible weapons. The Bureau staff’s reaction (crowding around screens, sharing intel about previous raids) confirms this is a major escalation. This discovery raises stakes by showing the conflict is now active warfare, not just ideological disagreement, and sets up future confrontations between Allegiant, factionless, and Bureau factions.

      5. How does the chapter use physical spaces to reflect thematic divisions?

      Answer:
      The chapter contrasts three significant spaces: 1) The control room’s sterile observation post represents the Bureau’s detached surveillance of Chicago; 2) The dark city footage shows the ongoing struggle between Evelyn’s factionless (in Erudite HQ) and the Allegiant (moving through anonymous buildings); 3) The windows showing shared night sky symbolize the false sense of connection between these divided worlds. These spaces physically manifest the book’s themes of separation—while Tobias sits safely observing, the people in Chicago are actively fighting for their vision of society’s future.

    Quotes

    • 1. “It’s just something to pass the time as I wait for my sentence from Tris, as I wait for our plan to strike the Bureau to come together, as I wait for something, anything.”

      This quote captures Tobias’s restless anticipation and emotional turmoil as he grapples with uncertainty about his relationship with Tris and the impending rebellion. It reveals his internal struggle with passivity versus action.

      2. “They’re dangerous… More dangerous because no one else knows how dangerous they are but me.”

      Tobias’s warning about his parents (Evelyn and Marcus) highlights the theme of hidden threats and his unique perspective as their son. This quote underscores his isolation in understanding their true nature while others remain oblivious.

      3. “I never thought of the Erudite as being particularly perceptive about relationships, or emotions, but Cara’s discerning eyes see all kinds of things.”

      This observation challenges faction stereotypes and shows character growth as Tobias acknowledges unexpected depth in others. It marks a moment of self-reflection about his own blind spots and assumptions.

      4. “My father knows what Evelyn knew: that the power to make people fear you is the only power you need. Weapons will do that for him.”

      A pivotal insight about the nature of power in their society, connecting Marcus’s and Evelyn’s similar methods despite being enemies. This quote crystallizes the cycle of oppression that the characters are trying to break.

      5. “The Allegiant are motivated by the desire to return to our original purpose in the city.”

      This concise explanation (cut off in the text) represents the ideological core of the rebellion movement. It introduces the key conflict between preserving the past system versus embracing change, a central tension in the chapter.

    Quotes

    1. “It’s just something to pass the time as I wait for my sentence from Tris, as I wait for our plan to strike the Bureau to come together, as I wait for something, anything.”

    This quote captures Tobias’s restless anticipation and emotional turmoil as he grapples with uncertainty about his relationship with Tris and the impending rebellion. It reveals his internal struggle with passivity versus action.

    2. “They’re dangerous… More dangerous because no one else knows how dangerous they are but me.”

    Tobias’s warning about his parents (Evelyn and Marcus) highlights the theme of hidden threats and his unique perspective as their son. This quote underscores his isolation in understanding their true nature while others remain oblivious.

    3. “I never thought of the Erudite as being particularly perceptive about relationships, or emotions, but Cara’s discerning eyes see all kinds of things.”

    This observation challenges faction stereotypes and shows character growth as Tobias acknowledges unexpected depth in others. It marks a moment of self-reflection about his own blind spots and assumptions.

    4. “My father knows what Evelyn knew: that the power to make people fear you is the only power you need. Weapons will do that for him.”

    A pivotal insight about the nature of power in their society, connecting Marcus’s and Evelyn’s similar methods despite being enemies. This quote crystallizes the cycle of oppression that the characters are trying to break.

    5. “The Allegiant are motivated by the desire to return to our original purpose in the city.”

    This concise explanation (cut off in the text) represents the ideological core of the rebellion movement. It introduces the key conflict between preserving the past system versus embracing change, a central tension in the chapter.

    FAQs

    1. What is Tobias doing in the control room at the beginning of the chapter, and what does this reveal about his character?

    Answer:
    Tobias is monitoring surveillance footage of Chicago, specifically searching for his parents (Evelyn and Marcus) and the Allegiant movement. This behavior reveals several aspects of his character: his lingering obsession with his dangerous parents despite claiming to hate them, his protective instincts (wanting to anticipate their next moves), and his struggle to transition to life outside the city. As Cara points out, he’s using this surveillance as both a distraction from his current situation and a way to maintain some sense of control, showing his difficulty letting go of the past.

    2. How does the chapter illustrate the growing conflict between the Allegiant and Evelyn’s factionless government?

    Answer:
    The chapter shows the Allegiant organizing coordinated attacks on weapons storehouses, with members from all factions (including surprising participants like Amity and Erudite) working together against Evelyn’s regime. The Bureau staff reveals this is their second raid, indicating an escalating conflict. The Allegiant’s goal is to overthrow Evelyn and restore the city’s original faction-based purpose. This mirrors Evelyn’s own rise to power, as both sides recognize that controlling weapons equals controlling fear—a power dynamic Tobias explicitly notes when reflecting on his father’s strategy.

    3. Analyze Cara’s role in this chapter—what purpose does her interaction with Tobias serve in the narrative?

    Answer:
    Cara serves as both a truth-teller and bridge between worlds in this chapter. Her perceptive questioning forces Tobias to confront his unhealthy fixation on his parents (“The parents you hate?”), highlighting his emotional conflicts. As an Erudite, she also provides key insights about the political alliances forming (noting Erudite would ally with Allegiant against Evelyn). Their exchange advances two key themes: 1) the difficulty of leaving one’s past behind, and 2) how shared enemies create unlikely alliances. Her comment about Tobias no longer belonging to Chicago’s world underscores the identity crisis all the characters face in the Bureau compound.

    4. What significant development occurs in the surveillance footage that changes the chapter’s tension?

    Answer:
    The pivotal moment comes when Tobias spots coordinated movement on camera twenty-four—the Allegiant assembling like “a flock of birds” around a building. This confirms their transition from a philosophical movement to an armed resistance, evidenced by their synchronized movements and visible weapons. The Bureau staff’s reaction (crowding around screens, sharing intel about previous raids) confirms this is a major escalation. This discovery raises stakes by showing the conflict is now active warfare, not just ideological disagreement, and sets up future confrontations between Allegiant, factionless, and Bureau factions.

    5. How does the chapter use physical spaces to reflect thematic divisions?

    Answer:
    The chapter contrasts three significant spaces: 1) The control room’s sterile observation post represents the Bureau’s detached surveillance of Chicago; 2) The dark city footage shows the ongoing struggle between Evelyn’s factionless (in Erudite HQ) and the Allegiant (moving through anonymous buildings); 3) The windows showing shared night sky symbolize the false sense of connection between these divided worlds. These spaces physically manifest the book’s themes of separation—while Tobias sits safely observing, the people in Chicago are actively fighting for their vision of society’s future.

    Note