Allegiant
Chapter Thirty-Three
by Roth, VeronicaIn Chapter Thirty-Three of *Allegiant*, Tobias encounters Peter in the dormitory, where Peter has spread out maps marked with red circles representing the limited scope of their experiences. The maps symbolize the vastness of the world, reducing their lives to a mere dot. Peter obsessively studies the maps, grappling with the insignificance of his actions in the grand scheme. Tobias, initially drawn to the maps, feels a sense of fear and smallness, while Peter uses the world’s scale to justify his past misdeeds as inconsequential. Their conversation reveals Peter’s attempt to rationalize his behavior by diminishing its importance.
The interaction between Tobias and Peter shifts from tension to brief camaraderie as they exchange jokes, though Tobias remains wary of Peter’s past actions, including his attempts to harm Tris. Peter sarcastically refers to Tris’s influence over others as a “Cult of Four,” highlighting his resentment toward her moral authority. Tobias defends Tris, asserting her ability to judge people accurately, but the moment of levity fades as Tobias recalls his own guilt over nearly getting Tris killed. The chapter underscores the complexity of their relationship, blending humor with unresolved animosity.
Tobias reflects on his shifting dynamic with Peter, recognizing that while Peter has done both terrible and heroic things, he remains unchanged in his manipulative nature. Peter’s comments about Tris’s power over others stir Tobias’s unease, as he grapples with his own diminished position and growing resentment. The chapter delves into Tobias’s internal conflict, as he struggles to reconcile his past actions with his desire for redemption. The tension between them escalates, culminating in Tobias leaving the dormitory, burdened by unresolved emotions.
The chapter concludes with Tobias seeking solace in the atrium garden, where the beauty of the flowers contrasts with his inner turmoil. Cara’s sudden appearance interrupts his thoughts, leaving the narrative on a note of anticipation. Throughout the chapter, themes of guilt, power, and insignificance are explored, as Tobias navigates his strained relationships with both Peter and Tris. The maps serve as a powerful metaphor for the characters’ struggles to find meaning in a world that often renders their actions seemingly trivial.
FAQs
1. How does Peter’s interaction with the maps reveal his psychological state and worldview in this chapter?
Answer:
Peter’s obsessive study of the maps reveals his existential crisis and coping mechanism. By marking their city as a mere red dot on global maps, he attempts to minimize the significance of his past actions (“everything I’ve ever worried about or said or done… doesn’t matter”). This reflects his desire to escape accountability, as Tobias observes how the vast planet serves as “a haven where he can disappear.” The frantic scribbling suggests Peter is grappling with scale and identity, using geographical perspective to rationalize his morally questionable behavior rather than confront it.2. What significant shift occurs in Tobias and Peter’s relationship dynamic in this chapter?
Answer:
The chapter shows an unusual moment of camaraderie between former enemies, as they exchange jokes about “the Cult of Four” and eyeball collections. This temporary truce stems from their shared feelings of alienation—Tobias from Tris’s group, Peter from society. However, the interaction remains fraught, as Tobias ultimately remembers Peter’s violent history and his own guilt regarding Tris. The dynamic shifts from hostility to cautious humor before reverting to tension, illustrating how past actions continue to overshadow potential reconciliation.3. How does the chapter use contrasting imagery to explore themes of scale and significance?
Answer:
Vivid contrasts emphasize existential themes: the “bright red dot” of their city versus the “multicolored pieces of land” on global maps visually represents human insignificance. Later, flowers appear as both “beautiful and savage,” mirroring Tobias’s dual view of Tris’s influence. The “drop of blood” imagery contrasts with the “blue stretches of water,” symbolizing how personal trauma (blood) dissolves into global indifference (ocean). These contrasts amplify Tobias’s fear of being “so small” while also revealing Peter’s desire to dissolve his crimes in vastness.4. Analyze how Tris’s absence becomes a powerful presence in this chapter through Tobias’s reflections.
Answer:
Though Tris never appears, her influence permeates the chapter. Tobias’s guilt over nearly getting her killed (“If she had been standing closer to the explosion…”) drives his emotional arc. Peter’s resentment of her social power (“if she decides someone is worthless, everyone follows suit”) sparks the conversation’s turning point. Tobias ultimately describes her as “magnetic,” acknowledging both her unconscious charisma and his growing resentment—showing how their strained relationship affects his identity now that he’s lost his “position of strength.”5. What does the chapter reveal about the psychological effects of their expanded worldview on former faction members?
Answer:
The global perspective triggers divergent coping mechanisms: Peter uses geographical scale to absolve himself, while Tobias grapples with moral responsibility (“the things they do to each other matter”). Both struggle with identity—Tobias compares Peter’s map obsession to his past fear fixation, showing how both seek control through patterns. The “Cult of Four” joke highlights how their old faction hierarchies still shape self-perception, even as the Bureau’s revelations destabilize their understanding of personal significance in a vast world.
Quotes
1. “On one of the pieces is a red dot. He points at it. ‘That dot covers all the places we’ve ever been. You could cut that piece of land out of the ground and sink it into this ocean and no one would even notice.’”
This quote captures Peter’s existential crisis about humanity’s insignificance in the vast world. It represents a key theme of perspective and scale, showing how their confined city experience contrasts with the overwhelming size of the planet.
2. “I see how the mammoth planet that terrifies me seems like a haven to him, a place where he can disappear into its great space, never distinguishing himself, and never being held responsible for his actions.”
This insight reveals Tobias’s realization about Peter’s psychology - how the same vastness that intimidates Tobias offers Peter an escape from accountability. It highlights their contrasting responses to their new understanding of the world.
3. “To me, Tris has always seemed magnetic in a way I could not describe, and that she was not aware of. I have never feared or hated her for it, the way Peter does, but then, I have always been in a position of strength myself, not threatened by her.”
This quote shows Tobias’s reflective moment about Tris’s leadership qualities and how power dynamics affect perception. It reveals his growing self-awareness about his changing position and potential resentment.
4. “Now that I have lost that position, I can feel the tug toward resentment, as strong and sure as a hand around my arm.”
This powerful metaphor captures Tobias’s internal conflict as he grapples with his diminished status. It represents a key character development moment where he acknowledges his own capacity for negative emotions.