Insurgent
Chapter Thirty-Six
by Veronica, RothThe chapter opens with Tris in a paralyzed state, pretending to be dead after being injected by Peter. Jeanine orders her body taken to the lab for an autopsy, unaware Tris is still alive. As Peter wheels her away, Tris remains motionless but conscious, her hand accidentally hitting a wall. Peter’s behavior shifts as he abruptly changes course, speeding through corridors before lifting her and revealing he knows she’s awake. The tension builds as Tris realizes Peter is aiding her escape, though his motives remain unclear.
Peter brings Tris to a hidden room where Tobias is waiting, shocked to see her alive. Peter explains the paralysis will wear off soon and urges Tobias to prepare to run. Tobias takes Peter’s gun, and the trio flees through Erudite headquarters, dodging threats. Tris gradually regains movement, her confusion mingling with relief as Tobias stays by her side. The urgency escalates with shouts and gunfire, but Peter’s quick thinking guides them to safety, showcasing an unexpected alliance.
The group reaches a trash incinerator, which Peter has disabled to serve as an escape route. Tris slides down first, followed by Peter and Tobias, all landing painfully but safely in the dark, ash-filled chamber. The cramped space and lingering smell of fire heighten the sense of danger, yet Tris feels a renewed appreciation for being alive. Peter’s sarcastic remarks contrast with the gravity of the situation, leaving Tris to ponder why he helped her. The trio then navigates a dank hallway toward an exit sign, symbolizing their narrow escape from death.
As they emerge, Tris reflects on how different the world looks when she’s no longer facing execution. The chapter ends with the group poised to continue their flight, their dynamics shifting as Tris grapples with Peter’s unexpected role in her survival. The ordeal underscores themes of trust and survival, leaving readers questioning Peter’s true allegiance and the trio’s next steps in their rebellion against Erudite.
FAQs
1. How does Peter demonstrate unexpected loyalty in this chapter, and what does this reveal about his character development?
Answer:
Peter shows unexpected loyalty by secretly helping Tris escape execution, despite being the one who initially injected her with the paralytic serum. He pretends she’s dead to Jeanine’s team (“Take the body to the lab”), then risks his safety to deliver her to Tobias (“She’s not dead; she’s just paralyzed”). This reveals significant character growth, as Peter—previously portrayed as self-serving—chooses to undermine the Erudite faction. His sarcastic remarks (“For someone so small, you’re heavy”) mask genuine concern, suggesting complexity beneath his antagonistic facade.2. Analyze the significance of Tris’s correction from “Tris” to “Beatrice” during her reunion with Tobias. What thematic elements does this moment highlight?
Answer:
When Tris insists Tobias call her “Beatrice,” it symbolizes her embrace of her full identity beyond faction labels. Earlier in the series, she abandoned her birth name to adopt the Dauntless persona “Tris.” By reclaiming “Beatrice” after nearly dying, she affirms her integrated self—honoring her Abnegation roots while maintaining Dauntless courage. Tobias’s immediate acceptance (“Beatrice,” he amends) reinforces their relationship’s depth, where he loves her whole self. The moment also underscores the theme of self-acceptance amid societal divisions.3. How does the author use sensory details to create tension during the escape sequence? Provide specific examples.
Answer:
Roth heightens tension through visceral sensory descriptions. Tactile details like Tris’s hand “smack[ing] into the wall” while paralyzed and the “tingling in [her] hands and feet” as the serum wears off immerse readers in her physical vulnerability. Auditory cues—Peter’s shouted directions (“Left!”), gunshots (“A bang. And nothing”), and the incinerator’s “rollers pound[ing] against [her] back”—create a chaotic soundscape. Olfactory imagery (“rotting garbage and fire” in the incinerator) adds claustrophobic realism. These details collectively amplify the scene’s urgency and danger.4. Compare the two escape methods used in this chapter: the initial deception with the paralytic serum versus the incinerator chute. How do they reflect the characters’ resourcefulness?
Answer:
The serum deception relies on psychological strategy—Peter exploits Erudite’s trust in his loyalty and their expectation of compliance (“autopsy is scheduled”). In contrast, the incinerator escape showcases physical ingenuity, repurposing infrastructure (the “metal furnace” and “rollers”) for survival. Both methods highlight adaptability: Peter’s quick thinking in faking Tris’s death mirrors Tobias’s tactical gun use (“Don’t concern yourself with my aim”). The duality reflects the novel’s broader theme that rebellion requires both intellectual cunning and hands-on daring.5. Why might the line “everything is bound to look different when you aren’t on your way to die” serve as a pivotal reflection for Tris’s arc in this chapter?
Answer:
This line encapsulates Tris’s psychological shift after cheating death. Earlier, she resigned herself to execution for the greater good (shown when she accepts the serum without fighting). Surviving forces her to recontextualize her purpose—the same physical journey (“stretch of land between Dauntless and Erudite headquarters”) now represents hope rather than sacrifice. It marks a turning point where she transitions from passive martyr to active survivor, foreshadowing her renewed determination to fight Jeanine. The observation also subtly critiques the Erudite’s dehumanization, as Tris rediscovers life’s value.
Quotes
1. “BUT I’M STILL breathing. Not deeply; not enough to satisfy, but breathing.”
This opening line powerfully captures Tris’s precarious state of being paralyzed yet alive, setting the tense tone for the escape sequence. The emphasis on “breathing” highlights her fragile survival against all odds.
2. “‘She’s not dead; she’s just paralyzed. It’ll only last for about a minute. Now get ready to run.’”
Peter’s revelation to Tobias marks a critical turning point where his unexpected alliance becomes clear. This quote showcases the chapter’s central tension between apparent betrayal and hidden loyalty.
3. “‘Unless you want me to throw up all over you guys, you might want to save it for later.’”
Peter’s sarcastic remark provides dark comic relief while underscoring the uneasy dynamic between the trio. The line contrasts sharply with the emotional reunion between Tris and Tobias, highlighting Peter’s role as an unwilling hero.
4. “‘Don’t say I never took you anywhere nice,’ Peter says. ‘Wouldn’t dream of it,’ I say.”
This exchange in the trash incinerator encapsulates the chapter’s theme of finding humor in dire circumstances. Their banter reveals the complex relationship between Tris and Peter, who are forced to cooperate despite their history.
5. “I was almost dead, but instead I am alive. Because of Peter. Of all people.”
Tris’s internal reflection powerfully concludes the escape sequence, emphasizing the chapter’s central irony. This realization about her unlikely savior carries significant thematic weight about unexpected alliances and second chances.