Allegiant
Chapter Twenty-Two
by Roth, VeronicaIn this chapter, Tris continues reading her mother Natalie’s journal entries, which reveal a strained relationship with David, her supervisor. The entries, addressed to David, express Natalie’s frustration over his accusations that she lost sight of her mission after choosing Abnegation and deciding to marry. She defends her right to make her own choices and accuses David of jealousy, threatening to cut off communication unless he apologizes. Tris reflects on the dynamics between Natalie and David, questioning whether her mother’s perspective was entirely accurate and noting how Natalie’s tone matures over time.
The journal entries abruptly end with a death certificate stating Natalie died from gunshot wounds, a detail Tris struggles to confront. Desperate for distraction, she accompanies Zoe to the control room, where she observes surveillance footage of Evelyn, Tobias’s mother. Evelyn is seen fixated on a blue glass sculpture, which Tris recognizes from Tobias’s room. The sculpture, a gift from Evelyn to Tobias, symbolizes her hidden rebellion against Abnegation’s austerity. Tris realizes the object holds deeper emotional significance, representing Evelyn’s grief over her son’s departure.
As Tris watches Evelyn, she gains insight into the complexity of their relationship. The sculpture serves as a poignant reminder of Tobias, and Tris contemplates whether he, too, feels the weight of abandoning his mother. The chapter highlights the unbreakable ties between family members, even amid conflict and separation. Tris’s observation of Evelyn’s quiet mourning underscores the emotional undercurrents that persist beyond the factional strife.
The chapter concludes with Tris turning her attention to Zoe, intending to ask her about Natalie, as Zoe appeared in a photograph with her mother. Tris’s quest for answers about her family’s past drives her actions, blending her personal journey with the broader themes of identity and belonging. The interplay between past and present, as well as the exploration of familial bonds, adds depth to Tris’s character development and the narrative’s emotional resonance.
FAQs
1. How does Natalie’s tone and writing style change in her journal entries over time, and what does this reveal about her character development?
Answer:
Natalie’s early entries are emotional and confrontational, particularly in her letter to David where she accuses him of jealousy and asserts her independence. Over time, her language becomes more refined and moderate, as seen in her later, more concise and formal farewell note to David. This evolution reflects her maturation from a rebellious outsider to someone more integrated into Abnegation’s culture. The chapter notes this shift explicitly, stating her reactions become “more moderate” as she grows up, indicating her adaptation to faction life and emotional development.2. What symbolic significance does Evelyn’s glass sculpture hold, and how does Tris interpret its meaning?
Answer:
The blue glass sculpture, originally given by Evelyn to Tobias, symbolizes their fractured but enduring mother-son bond. Tris initially speculates it might represent Evelyn’s rebellion against the faction system, but later realizes it’s a poignant reminder of Tobias—a connection to the son who abandoned her. This shift in interpretation highlights Evelyn’s grief and the complexity of familial ties, which Tris notes “never really break.” The object’s recurring presence underscores themes of memory, loss, and the unbreakable nature of family relationships.3. Analyze the relationship dynamics between Natalie and David based on their correspondence. What conflicts and resolutions are evident?
Answer:
Natalie and David’s relationship evolves from a perceived friendship (with Natalie addressing him familiarly and accusing him of jealousy) to a more distant professional dynamic. Their conflict centers on Natalie’s life choices—her marriage and faction selection—which David seemingly disapproves of. The resolution comes years later in a terse, respectful farewell note, suggesting David withdrew from their personal connection. Tris questions Natalie’s objectivity in portraying David, hinting at unreliable narration and unresolved tensions that may have persisted beyond the written record.4. How does Tris’s observation of Evelyn through the surveillance footage deepen her understanding of Tobias’s choices and their consequences?
Answer:
Watching Evelyn interact with the sculpture, Tris realizes Tobias’s departure wasn’t just a political act but a personal abandonment, reframing his rebellion as a son leaving his mother. This moment humanizes Evelyn, whom Tris previously viewed primarily as a antagonistic leader. The footage reveals Evelyn’s vulnerability and grief, prompting Tris to reflect on Tobias’s emotional experience—whether he, too, feels this loss. The scene underscores the chapter’s theme of hidden emotional costs behind ideological conflicts.5. Why does Tris resist looking at the control room screens initially, and what does her eventual engagement with them suggest about her character?
Answer:
Tris fears becoming “addicted” to the screens, symbolizing her struggle to reconcile her past (the “old world”) with her present. Her avoidance reflects a desire to avoid painful memories or distractions. However, her curiosity wins out, demonstrating her relentless pursuit of truth and empathy—traits central to her character. By analyzing Evelyn’s actions, she turns surveillance into a tool for understanding human relationships, showing her ability to find meaning even in invasive systems.
Quotes
1. “I deserve to have a life of my own. One that I choose, not one that you and the Bureau choose for me.”
This powerful statement from Natalie to David captures her rebellion against external control and assertion of personal agency. It represents a key theme of self-determination that runs through the chapter.
2. “I can tell she’s getting older in the entries, her language becoming more refined as time separates her from the fringe where she once lived, her reactions becoming more moderate. She’s growing up.”
This observation by Tris shows her developing understanding of her mother’s evolution, marking an important moment of character insight and the passage of time in the narrative.
3. “Somehow I never realized that when Tobias charged out of the city with me, he wasn’t just a rebel defying his leader—he was a son abandoning his mother. And she is grieving over it.”
This realization by Tris provides profound insight into the complex personal dynamics beneath the political conflicts, revealing the human cost of their rebellion.
4. “Fraught with difficulty as their relationship has been, those ties never really break. They can’t possibly.”
This concluding thought about familial bonds serves as a thematic anchor for the chapter, emphasizing the enduring nature of family connections despite conflict and separation.