Allegiant
Chapter Twenty-Eight
by Roth, VeronicaThe chapter opens with Tris in a chaotic hospital, relieved to find Tobias unharmed but concerned about Uriah, who is isolated in a separate room with a closed door—a grim sign. A distracted nurse tends to Tris’s minor arm wound but discovers a more serious cut on her forehead that requires stitches. Amid the frantic activity, Tris observes the overwhelmed medical staff and the pervasive scent of chemicals and blood, highlighting the aftermath of a violent attack on the Bureau. The nurse reveals that David, though severely injured, will survive, crediting Tris for saving him—a fact that fills her with guilt for her selfish motives during the crisis.
As Tris leaves the emergency ward, she notes the injured support staff lining the hallways, all clad in green uniforms. She reflects on her disheveled appearance, stained with both her and David’s blood, before resolving to find Tobias and Christina. The chapter reveals that the attackers used explosions as diversions, breaching the Bureau through an underground tunnel—a detail Nita had omitted. Tris encounters Nita, who is brought in wounded, and feels detached from her pain, rationalizing her own role in shooting her. The scene underscores Tris’s emotional numbness and the moral ambiguity of her actions.
Tris soon finds Christina in the waiting room, anxious for news about Uriah. Christina expresses frustration at the Bureau’s secrecy and perceived favoritism toward Tris due to her genetic status. Tris struggles to bridge the growing divide between them, unsure how to navigate their unequal standing. She offers to stay with Christina after finding Tobias, but Christina reveals the shocking news that Tobias has been arrested for aiding the invaders by disabling the alarm system. Though Tris already suspected his involvement, the confirmation forces her to confront the reality of his betrayal.
The chapter ends with Tris determined to speak to Tobias, hinting at a pivotal confrontation. Her internal conflict—weighing her love for him against his actions—adds tension to the narrative. The hospital setting, filled with wounded and frantic activity, mirrors Tris’s turmoil as she grapples with guilt, loyalty, and the consequences of the attack. The revelation of Tobias’s arrest sets the stage for a reckoning, leaving Tris resolved to face him despite the pain it may bring.
FAQs
1. How does Tris’s reaction to her injury differ from her reaction to David’s injury, and what does this reveal about her character development?
Answer:
Tris shows remarkable composure when receiving treatment for her head wound, barely reacting to the needle and numbing agent due to her familiarity with medical procedures. However, her internal monologue reveals deep guilt about using David as a human shield during the attack, wishing she could confess her selfish motives. This contrast highlights her growing self-awareness and moral complexity—while she remains physically brave, she’s increasingly troubled by ethical compromises. The chapter emphasizes this through her thought: “I wish I could confess to being a person full of hate… My parents would be ashamed.”2. Analyze the significance of the hospital scene’s details in conveying the aftermath of the attack. What themes do these observations reinforce?
Answer:
The chaotic hospital environment—with bloodstained gloves, slipping nurses, and chemical smells—visually reinforces the violence’s human cost. Tris notes most injured wear green support staff uniforms, underscoring how marginalized groups bore the brunt of the attack. The rushed medical staff (“gone to the next injury”) mirrors the Bureau’s systemic indifference. These details collectively emphasize themes of social hierarchy and collateral damage, particularly when contrasted with Tris’s reflection about Nita: “I feel strangely separate from her pain,” showing emotional desensitization in crisis.3. How does Christina’s dialogue reveal the impact of genetic discrimination within the Bureau’s society?
Answer:
Christina’s bitter remark—”they would tell you… but I’m not convinced they would give me a second look”—explicitly addresses genetic privilege. Her knee-jiggling anxiety and distrust of the medical staff (“they think they own him”) reflect the powerless position of “genetically damaged” individuals. Tris’s internal acknowledgment that she might have disagreed earlier shows her growing awareness of this systemic bias. The tension between them illustrates how the Bureau’s hierarchy strains even close friendships, as Tris struggles to navigate her unearned advantages.4. What narrative purpose does the delayed revelation about Tobias’s arrest serve, and how does Tris’s reaction subvert expectations?
Answer:
Christina’s hesitant reveal (“They didn’t tell you?”) creates dramatic irony, letting readers anticipate Tris’s shock. However, Tris’s calm response (“I already knew”) subverts expectations, demonstrating her perceptiveness and emotional control. This moment advances the plot while deepening character dynamics—it shows Tris’s loyalty to Tobias despite his betrayal, foreshadowing her decision to confront him. The clinical description of his alleged actions (“disabling the alarm system”) contrasts with Tris’s determined final line, emphasizing her agency in choosing reconciliation over anger.5. Evaluate how the chapter uses physical wounds as metaphors for emotional and societal conflicts.
Answer:
Tris’s stitched forehead wound parallels her psychological scars—both are temporarily patched but still raw. David’s spinal injury (“take him a long time to walk again”) symbolizes the Bureau’s crippled authority. Nita’s gauze-clutching groan reflects the rebellion’s violent consequences. These injuries collectively represent the irreversible damage inflicted by ideological battles. Notably, Tris’s blood mingles with David’s on her clothes—a visceral image of their forced connection—while her numbed wound mirrors her emotional detachment, showing how survival necessitates both physical and moral compromise.
Quotes
1. “I wish I could tell her that I’m not a hero, that I was using him as a shield, like a wall of meat. I wish I could confess to being a person full of hate for the Bureau and for David, a person who would let someone else get riddled with bullets to save herself. My parents would be ashamed.”
This quote reveals Tris’s intense inner conflict and moral self-reproach after the attack. It shows her grappling with survivor’s guilt and the harsh reality that her actions in crisis don’t align with her self-image or values.
2. “I shot her. I had to. That’s the end of it.”
This terse statement captures Tris’s hardened emotional state regarding her confrontation with Nita. The clinical detachment contrasts sharply with her earlier moral anguish, showing how she compartmentalizes violence when necessary.
3. “A few days ago I might have disagreed with her, unsure how influential their belief in genetic damage was on their behavior. I’m not sure what to do—not sure how to talk to her now that I have these advantages and she does not and there’s nothing either of us can do about it.”
This reflects the growing divide between Tris and her friends due to the Bureau’s genetic hierarchy. It shows her awareness of systemic discrimination and her struggle to navigate these new power dynamics in personal relationships.
4. “I need to talk to him. And I know what I need to say.”
The chapter’s closing lines create suspense about Tobias’s arrest and Tris’s determination to confront him. This brief but powerful statement suggests a pivotal moment coming in their relationship and the larger conflict.