Insurgent
Chapter Thirty-Nine
by Veronica, RothIn Chapter Thirty-Nine of *Insurgent (Divergent)*, Tris and Christina prepare for a dangerous mission by disguising themselves in Amity clothing at Tris’s parents’ house. Christina applies makeup and helps Tris don a bright red dress, humorously justifying her makeup bag as a wartime necessity. Despite the lighthearted banter, the gravity of their situation is underscored by the knife strapped to Tris’s leg. The scene highlights their camaraderie and the stark contrast between their youthful energy and the impending conflict.
As they leave the house, the pair encounters Peter, who mockingly wishes them luck while revealing his cowardice. His taunts and refusal to join the fight emphasize the divisiveness among the factions. Tris and Christina dismiss him, focusing on their plan to meet Marcus behind Abnegation headquarters. Their dialogue reveals Tris’s doubts about the plan’s viability, but Christina reassures her that revealing the truth justifies the risks. This exchange underscores their shared commitment to justice, rooted in their Candor and Dauntless backgrounds.
The chapter delves into Tris’s reflections on her Abnegation upbringing as they walk through the sector. She acknowledges the complexity of her feelings—nostalgia mingled with resentment—while finding comfort in the familiar gray surroundings. The quiet moment contrasts with the urgency of their mission, emphasizing the personal stakes for Tris. Their arrival at the pickup truck, driven by Marcus, marks a turning point as they prepare to embark on a perilous journey to Amity headquarters.
Marcus’s presence unsettles Tris, but she rationalizes working with him as a necessary evil. The dilapidated truck and his gruff demeanor amplify the tension, while Christina’s sarcastic remarks provide brief levity. As they drive off, narrowly avoiding road hazards, the chapter ends on a note of suspense, leaving readers anxious about the challenges ahead. The blend of action, introspection, and character dynamics captures the chapter’s emotional and narrative depth.
FAQs
1. How does Christina’s use of makeup and Amity clothing serve as both a disguise and a statement about her character?
Answer:
Christina’s meticulous application of makeup and choice of bright Amity clothing serves a dual purpose. On a practical level, it helps her and Tris blend in with the Amity faction during their mission (as evidenced by Tris noting “I’m wearing a bright red dress” while still carrying a concealed weapon). More significantly, this reflects Christina’s Candor roots—she maintains her bold personality even in dangerous circumstances, using appearance as both armor and expression. Her joking comment about being “devastatingly attractive” to avoid being shot shows her characteristic humor in tense situations, revealing how she copes with stress through wit and confidence.2. Analyze the significance of Tris’s reflection: “We never leave our old factions behind.” How does this theme manifest in this chapter?
Answer:
This observation underscores the novel’s recurring theme of identity and faction loyalty. Despite formal faction transfers, characters retain core values from their upbringing: Christina’s Candor-born pursuit of truth drives her to join Tris’s risky mission, while Tris’s Abnegation habits surface when she finds comfort in the “unchanging gray” of her childhood sector. Even Peter’s refusal to fight alongside the factionless reveals lingering Dauntless elitism. The chapter highlights how faction identities persist psychologically, as seen in Tris’s conflicted return to her parents’ home and Christina’s candid teasing—both behaviors rooted in their original factions.3. What does Peter’s interaction with Tris and Christina reveal about his character and the broader societal tensions?
Answer:
Peter’s sarcastic dismissal of the mission (“Have fun dying”) and refusal to fight alongside the factionless exposes his self-serving cowardice and prejudice. His green-eyed “malicious cheer” contrasts with the girls’ determination, emphasizing his role as an antagonist. More broadly, his remark about not wanting to battle “with a bunch of factionless” reflects the deep-seated class divisions in their society. While Tris and Christina are willing to cross faction lines for justice, Peter clings to old hierarchies, showcasing how the revolution exacerbates conflicts between those adapting to change and those resisting it.4. How does the description of Marcus’s truck and the journey to Amity headquarters contribute to the chapter’s tension?
Answer:
The “powder-blue pickup truck” with its broken seatbelts and groaning engine creates visceral unease, mirroring the precariousness of Tris’s alliance with Marcus. Details like narrowly avoiding a “gaping hole in the road” become metaphors for their dangerous political maneuvering. The truck’s factionless origins and poor condition also emphasize the resource scarcity in their war-torn world. As Marcus’s reckless driving forces Tris to grab the dashboard, the physical danger parallels her emotional turmoil over betraying Tobias’s trust, amplifying the chapter’s suspense through kinetic imagery.5. Evaluate Tris’s internal conflict about working with Marcus. What does this reveal about her moral development?
Answer:
Tris’s self-justification (“You have no other choice”) reveals her moral pragmatism in crisis. While she loathes Marcus (referencing him as “Destroyer of Lives”), she compartmentalizes her hatred to achieve the greater goal of exposing the truth. Her strategic seating choice—letting Christina sit between them—shows active management of her emotions. This contrasts with her earlier black-and-white morality, demonstrating growth in making difficult alliances. However, her need to rationalize (“lessens my betrayal of Tobias”) underscores lingering guilt, highlighting the complex balance between utilitarian ethics and personal loyalties in her leadership journey.
Quotes
1. “I trusted Christina to take up this mission when I thought I would die, so it seemed stupid not to trust her now… She may be Dauntless now, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned through all this, it’s that we never leave our old factions behind.”
This quote captures the novel’s central theme of identity and faction loyalty. It shows the protagonist reflecting on how their past (Candor values) still influences present actions, despite faction transfers.
2. “I liked some things and hated some things… And there were some things I didn’t know I had until I lost them.”
A poignant reflection on nostalgia and loss, showing the protagonist’s complex relationship with her Abnegation upbringing. This brief philosophical moment reveals her emotional growth throughout the series.
3. “Unfortunately it’s also the best plan we have… If we want everyone to know the truth.”
This exchange highlights the risky nature of their mission while emphasizing the Candor-born value of truth that drives their actions. It represents the chapter’s central conflict between pragmatism and idealism.
4. “By the time we leave, I have red lips and curled eyelashes, and I’m wearing a bright red dress. And there’s a knife strapped to the inside of my knee. This all makes perfect sense.”
This ironic juxtaposition perfectly captures the novel’s blend of coming-of-age moments with dystopian violence. The contrast between feminine preparation and combat readiness exemplifies the protagonist’s dual nature.