Roth, Veronica — Divergent 01 — Divergent
CHAPTER NINETEEN
by Veronica, Roth,The chapter opens with Tris discovering a group of Dauntless initiates gathered around Peter, who is reading aloud an Erudite article attacking Abnegation and her father. The article suggests that the departure of Abnegation leaders’ children, including Tris and her brother Caleb, reflects poorly on the faction’s values. Molly, a fellow transfer, fuels the accusations by claiming Tris had nightmares about her father, implying abuse. Tris is furious and attempts to confront Peter and Molly, but Will intervenes to prevent a physical altercation, dragging her out of the dormitory.
In the hallway, Tris vents her anger at Will, who tries to calm her down by downplaying the Erudite’s intentions. He argues that the Erudite merely seek more influence rather than a full overthrow of the government. Tris, however, remains unconvinced and expresses disbelief that her brother Caleb joined such a faction. Will defends the Erudite, insisting they aren’t entirely bad, but Tris struggles to reconcile this with the personal attacks on her family and faction. The tension between her old life in Abnegation and her new identity in Dauntless becomes increasingly apparent.
After the confrontation, Tris joins Christina, Al, and Will for a trip to get tattoos, a Dauntless initiation ritual. Tris gets a Dauntless seal tattoo and embraces the faction’s culture, wearing a revealing shirt and eyeliner. The group dynamic lightens the mood, with Al giving Christina a piggyback ride and Tris reflecting on her growing comfort with Dauntless customs. Despite the earlier conflict, Tris finds solace in her new friendships and the sense of belonging they provide.
The chapter concludes with Tris and Will discussing their fears, a recurring theme in their Dauntless training. Tris mentions her fear of crows, while Will jokes about his fear of acid, though Tris doesn’t probe further. Will finds the fear simulations fascinating, hinting at his intellectual curiosity. The chapter ends on a lighter note, contrasting the earlier tension with moments of camaraderie and personal growth, as Tris continues to navigate her dual identity and the challenges of her new life in Dauntless.
FAQs
1. How does the Erudite faction’s propaganda article attack both Tris’s family and the Abnegation faction as a whole?
Answer:
The Erudite article employs multiple strategies to discredit both Tris’s family and Abnegation. It first questions Andrew Prior’s parenting by suggesting his children’s faction transfers indicate “a disturbed and abusive upbringing,” using Molly’s fabricated claim about Tris’s nightmares as “evidence.” Then it escalates to attacking Abnegation’s governance, calling them “proselytizing tyrants” who can’t lead the city out of poverty. This two-pronged approach personalizes the attack (making Tris’s father appear unfit) while broadening it to undermine Abnegation’s political legitimacy, as seen in Peter’s reading of phrases like “corrupted ideals of an entire faction.”2. Analyze how Tris’s reaction to the Erudite article demonstrates her conflicting identities in Dauntless.
Answer:
Tris’s violent outburst—stomping Peter’s foot and lunging at Molly—shows her Dauntless aggression, yet her focus on defending Abnegation values (“They want people to agree, not listen”) reveals lingering faction loyalty. Her physical transformation (tattoos, makeup) contrasts with her emotional ties to family, as seen when she screams, “That’s my father!” Will’s observation that Abnegation is her “old faction” highlights this tension. The scene captures her hybrid identity: adopting Dauntless behaviors (fighting, tattoos) while rejecting their apathy toward faction politics.3. What strategic purpose does Molly’s false testimony serve in the Erudite’s broader political agenda?
Answer:
Molly’s claim about Tris’s nightmares serves to weaponize personal narratives against Abnegation leadership. By framing Andrew Prior as potentially abusive, Erudite shifts criticism from ideological differences to moral character, making their argument more emotionally potent. This tactic mirrors real-world propaganda that discredits opponents through personal attacks rather than policy debates. The chapter shows Erudite’s pattern of using transfers’ testimonies (first Caleb, now Molly) to manufacture “evidence” of systemic failure in Abnegation, laying groundwork for their proposed government overthrow.4. How does Will’s response to the article reveal differences between Erudite and Dauntless perspectives on conflict?
Answer:
Will downplays the article as mere arrogance rather than a real threat, reflecting his Erudite-trained analytical approach (“They just want more say”). This contrasts with Tris’s Dauntless impulse for immediate physical retaliation. His solution—ignoring the provocation—shows Erudite pragmatism, while his defense of his former faction (“They’re not all bad”) demonstrates nuanced thinking atypical in Dauntless. However, his exhaustion (“dark circles under his eyes”) hints at internal conflict, suggesting he may be rationalizing to avoid confronting his faction’s escalating aggression.5. Evaluate how the tattoos symbolize Tris’s transformation and internal conflicts in this chapter.
Answer:
The Dauntless seal tattoo represents Tris’s conscious embrace of her new faction (“integral to initiation”), yet her mother’s nonreaction to previous tattoos hints at unresolved Abnegation values. The shoulder-baring shirt and eyeliner, encouraged by Christina, reflect social assimilation, but her visceral defense of Abnegation shows identity isn’t so easily changed. The tattoos become paradoxical symbols: permanent marks of a chosen identity that contrast with her impermanent emotional transition. This mirrors the chapter’s central tension—external transformations (clothes, tattoos) versus internal loyalties (family, faction values).
Quotes
1. “The mass exodus of the children of Abnegation leaders cannot be ignored or attributed to coincidence. The recent transfer of Beatrice and Caleb Prior, the children of Andrew Prior, calls into question the soundness of Abnegation’s values and teachings.”
This quote marks the beginning of the Erudite’s public attack on Tris’s family and faction, using her transfer to Dauntless as political ammunition. It represents the growing tension between factions and the propaganda war against Abnegation’s leadership.
2. “However, perhaps the answer lies not in a morally bereft man, but in the corrupted ideals of an entire faction. Perhaps the answer is that we have entrusted our city to a group of proselytizing tyrants who do not know how to lead us out of poverty and into prosperity.”
This escalates the rhetoric from personal attacks to a full-scale indictment of Abnegation’s governance, foreshadowing the coming political conflict. It shows how the Erudite are framing their challenge to the existing power structure.
3. “No, it’s not. It’s your old faction, and there’s nothing you can do about what they say, so you might as well just ignore it.”
Will’s pragmatic advice highlights Tris’s struggle with her dual identity as both a former Abnegation member and new Dauntless initiate. This represents the ongoing tension between her past and present loyalties.
4. “They don’t want people to listen, they want people to agree. And you shouldn’t bully people into agreeing with you.”
Tris’s sharp retort critiques the Erudite’s methods while revealing her continued defense of Abnegation values. This shows her growing political awareness and the complexity of her faction transition.
5. “I can’t believe my brother joined them.”
This simple statement captures Tris’s personal anguish about Caleb’s choice to join Erudite, adding emotional weight to the political conflict. It shows how the faction tensions are tearing families apart.