Insurgent
Chapter Three
by Veronica, RothThe chapter opens with the protagonist checking for a hidden gun under her mattress, revealing her inner turmoil and struggle to maintain composure. After calming herself, she notices Johanna Reyes and Marcus Eaton walking outside and impulsively follows them, hiding in an apple orchard to eavesdrop. Their tense conversation hints at a deeper conflict, as Johanna presses Marcus for information about the Erudite’s attack on Abnegation, suggesting it was motivated by hidden knowledge rather than mere power grabs.
Marcus remains guarded, revealing only that the Abnegation were entrusted with sensitive information that Jeanine sought to steal—information so valuable that many leaders died protecting it. Johanna’s attempts to gain his trust are met with resistance, as Marcus expresses deep distrust after past betrayals led to his friends’ deaths. Their interaction ends with Johanna kissing his cheek and walking away, leaving Marcus momentarily stunned before he departs. The protagonist is left reeling from the revelation that her father may have been among those who died protecting this secret.
Determined to uncover the truth, the protagonist seeks out Tobias, finding him in a lighthearted moment with her brother Caleb. The scene contrasts sharply with the earlier tension, as Tobias demonstrates his Dauntless skills by throwing a knife at cheese. Caleb’s improved demeanor suggests he is recovering from recent trauma, while the protagonist’s use of Tobias’s nickname “Four” hints at their intimate connection. The playful exchange momentarily distracts from the weighty secrets she has just overheard.
The chapter effectively juxtaposes moments of vulnerability, tension, and fleeting normalcy. The protagonist’s emotional instability, Marcus’s guarded secrets, and the brief respite with Tobias and Caleb all contribute to a growing sense of urgency to uncover the truth. The revelation about the Abnegation’s hidden knowledge adds a new layer to the conflict, driving the protagonist’s determination to understand what cost her father’s life and why the Erudite would kill for it.
FAQs
1. What crucial revelation does Tris discover while eavesdropping on Marcus and Johanna in the orchard?
Answer:
Tris learns that Jeanine Matthews’ attack on Abnegation was not merely a power grab, but an attempt to steal sensitive information that only the Abnegation leadership possessed. Marcus reveals that this information was so valuable that most of the city’s leaders died protecting it, and he refuses to share details with Johanna due to distrust stemming from past betrayals. This revelation shifts Tris’s understanding of the conflict’s motivations and makes her question whether her father was among those who died safeguarding this secret (Marcus’s statement: “Jeanine attacked us to steal it… Most of the leaders of this city risked their lives to protect it”).2. How does the chapter illustrate Tris’s internal conflict through her interaction with the gun?
Answer:
The opening scene shows Tris experiencing a visceral panic reaction when touching the gun hidden under her mattress, with physical symptoms like throat tightening and difficulty breathing. This demonstrates her lingering trauma from prior violent experiences, contrasting with her conscious effort to “pull herself together” by compartmentalizing emotions like a tightened shoelace. The moment captures her struggle between vulnerability (“What is wrong with you?”) and forced resilience (“I feel suffocated, but at least I feel strong”), highlighting the psychological toll of her journey while showing her determination to maintain control.3. Analyze how Marcus’s dialogue with Johanna reveals key aspects of the faction dynamics and his character.
Answer:
Marcus’s conversation exposes deep inter-faction distrust, particularly his belief that sharing information led to the Abnegation massacre (“The last time I trusted a faction representative… all my friends were murdered”). His harsh dismissal of Johanna’s inquiry as “self-serving” reflects both his protective instincts and his damaged worldview. Johanna’s diplomatic approach—combining Amity’s peacekeeping (“In order to have peace, we must first have trust”) with Candor-like directness—creates tension between their leadership styles. The exchange also hints at a complex history between them through Johanna’s physical gestures and reminder of her past loyalty.4. What narrative purpose does the lighthearted knife-throwing scene with Tobias and Caleb serve?
Answer:
This scene provides necessary emotional relief after intense revelations, showing Tris’s brother Caleb beginning to recover from grief through playful interaction with Tobias. It demonstrates Tobias’s rarely-seen playful side (“through laughter”) and exceptional Dauntless skills (knife-throwing precision), while subtly advancing Tris and Tobias’s relationship through their shared glance when she uses his nickname “Four.” The contrast between this camaraderie and the preceding tense orchard scene creates narrative balance, while Caleb’s improved demeanor (“spark of curiosity”) suggests healing—a temporary reprieve before Tris pursues the heavier secrets about her father’s possible role.5. How does the chapter end with a compelling narrative hook?
Answer:
The chapter concludes with Tris’s determined realization that she must uncover the secret her father may have died protecting (“I have to find out what could possibly be important enough…”). This creates immediate suspense about the nature of the information and sets up her future investigative actions. The juxtaposition of Marcus’s vague warnings about the information’s importance with Tris’s personal stake (her father’s potential involvement) makes the mystery emotionally urgent. Readers are left questioning both the factual mystery (what is the secret?) and the character implications (how will pursuing it affect Tris?).
Quotes
1. “And that is what it feels like: pulling the different parts of me up and in like a shoelace. I feel suffocated, but at least I feel strong.”
This quote captures Tris’s internal struggle with vulnerability and strength, illustrating her emotional tension through a vivid metaphor. It represents her ongoing character development as she balances her fears with her determination.
2. “Inquisitiveness is self-serving, Johanna.”
Marcus’s dismissive remark to Johanna reveals his guarded nature and distrust of others’ motives. This line highlights the tension between factions and Marcus’s role as a keeper of dangerous secrets.
3. “In order to have peace, we must first have trust.”
Johanna’s wise response to Marcus encapsulates a central theme of the novel - the importance of trust in rebuilding society. This philosophical statement contrasts with Marcus’s paranoid secrecy.
4. “I have to find out what could possibly be important enough for the Abnegation to die for—and the Erudite to kill for.”
This pivotal realization by Tris sets up the central mystery driving the plot forward. It marks her transition from passive survivor to active seeker of truth about her father’s legacy.
5. “Tell me he’s some kind of Dauntless prodigy…Can you do this too?”
Caleb’s awestruck reaction to Tobias’s knife-throwing skill provides a moment of levity while subtly showing the growing admiration between the characters. It also demonstrates Caleb’s re-engagement with life after his trauma.