Roth, Veronica — Divergent 01 — Divergent
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
by Veronica, Roth,Tris, still shaken by the violent incident involving Edward the previous night, seeks solace in an unfamiliar hallway to escape the dormitory’s lingering scent of blood. She reflects on her mother’s influence, finding comfort in small acts like scrubbing the floor, which remind her of home. Her attachment to her old gray sneakers symbolizes her unresolved longing for her past life. When Uriah, a fellow initiate, finds her, he invites her to join a secret Dauntless ritual, offering her a distraction from her grief and a chance to reclaim her sense of belonging.
Uriah leads Tris and a group of Dauntless-born initiates to a hidden staircase, where they join older members for an undisclosed adventure. Tris, though initially hesitant, feels a surge of excitement, embracing the Dauntless spirit she once might have feared. The group boards a moving train, and Tris successfully jumps on, proving her growing adaptability. Uriah’s older brother, Zeke, is among the members, adding a layer of familiarity to the otherwise mysterious outing. Tris’s curiosity about their destination grows, but the others keep it a surprise, heightening the sense of adventure.
During the train ride, Tris interacts with Shauna, a Dauntless member who mentions Four, Tris’s instructor. Shauna’s casual revelation that Four spoke of Tris as a “Stiff” stirs mixed emotions in her, including embarrassment and curiosity. Tris learns that Four is respected but rarely participates in these rituals, hinting at his fear of heights—a vulnerability Tris alone seems to know. Shauna’s anecdote about Four’s kindness during her initiation contrasts with Tris’s perception of him, leaving her unsettled and oddly jealous, though she can’t pinpoint why.
As the train approaches its destination, the Dauntless members leap off at high speed, and Tris follows without hesitation, determined to prove her courage. The chapter captures her emotional turmoil and gradual transformation, balancing her grief with her desire to fit into Dauntless. The ritual serves as a turning point, allowing Tris to momentarily escape her trauma and embrace the thrill of the unknown, while her interactions with Uriah and Shauna deepen her connections within the faction. The chapter ends on a note of anticipation, leaving Tris’s next steps uncertain but charged with potential.
FAQs
1. How does Tris’s emotional state at the beginning of the chapter reflect her internal conflict and growth?
Answer:
Tris begins the chapter in a state of distress, sitting alone in an unfamiliar hallway to escape the dormitory that still smells of blood after Edward’s attack. Her actions—scrubbing the floor compulsively and keeping her old gray sneakers—reveal her struggle to reconcile her Abnegation upbringing with her new Dauntless identity. When she thinks, “If I can’t be with her, the least I can do is act like her sometimes,” it shows her clinging to her past while navigating her transformation. However, her willingness to join Uriah’s dangerous outing later demonstrates her growing Dauntless traits, as she trades her “leaden feeling” for excitement, marking a pivotal step in her adaptation.2. Analyze the significance of Uriah’s invitation to Tris and how it impacts her relationship with the Dauntless-born initiates.
Answer:
Uriah’s invitation to the secret initiation ritual serves as a bridge for Tris into the Dauntless-born social circle, which has previously excluded her. His defense of her (“She just saw that guy get stabbed in the eye”) momentarily shields her from hostility, but her acceptance hinges on her ability to “act like [she] belongs.” The Dauntless-born initiates’ pack-like behavior (“sizing me up”) underscores the tribal nature of Dauntless culture. By participating without hesitation, Tris proves her resilience after trauma and begins to earn their tolerance, though Gabe’s initial disdain (“What’s the Stiff doing here?”) highlights lingering divisions between factions.3. What does Shauna’s revelation about Four teaching her to fight reveal about his character and Tris’s perception of him?
Answer:
Shauna’s anecdote about Four secretly tutoring her in fighting (“he taught me every night after everyone was asleep”) complicates Tris’s view of him as aloof and intimidating. His kindness contrasts with his stern instructor persona, unsettling Tris, who reacts with irrational jealousy (“half wanting to punch her”). This moment exposes Four’s hidden compassion and leadership style, which Tris hasn’t witnessed firsthand. It also underscores her conflicted feelings toward him—curiosity (“Do you know him well?”) mixed with possessiveness—hinting at her growing emotional attachment, even as she rationalizes her questions as mere concern over his opinion of her.4. How does the chapter use physical settings and sensory details to convey Tris’s psychological state?
Answer:
The chapter employs stark sensory imagery to mirror Tris’s turmoil. The dormitory’s lingering blood smell—despite her scrubbing—viscerally represents her trauma. The contrast between the “dark doorway” of the staircase and the daylight at the train tracks parallels her shift from despair to adrenaline-fueled daring. Her gray sneakers, a tactile link to Abnegation, symbolize her reluctance to fully let go of her past, while the black ones signify her attempted transition. The train’s speed and the “Dauntless mania” in Uriah’s eyes amplify her emotional pivot from grief to exhilaration, using the environment to externalize her inner conflict.5. Evaluate the symbolic role of the train-jumping ritual in Tris’s initiation journey.
Answer:
The train-jumping ritual epitomizes Dauntless values of risk and belonging. For Tris, it becomes a cathartic act of rebellion against her grief and a test of her integration. The high-speed jump (“much faster than… every other time I’ve jumped”) forces her to confront fear publicly, proving her worth to the Dauntless-born. Notably, Four’s absence (due to his fear of heights) creates irony: Tris embraces a challenge her mentor avoids, asserting her independence. The ritual also reinforces the faction’s exclusivity—members with siblings are prioritized—yet Tris’s participation, albeit provisional, marks her tentative acceptance into their ranks through shared danger.
Quotes
1. “If I can’t be with her, the least I can do is act like her sometimes.”
This quote reveals Tris’s deep longing for her mother and her attempt to cope with separation by emulating her mother’s selfless behavior. It shows how her Abnegation upbringing still influences her actions despite her Dauntless affiliation.
2. “A look I can only describe as Dauntless mania enters his eyes, but rather than recoil from it, as I might have a few weeks ago, I catch it, like it’s contagious.”
This moment marks Tris’s growing transformation into Dauntless, showing how she’s beginning to embrace their reckless courage rather than fear it. The “contagious” metaphor perfectly captures her changing identity.
3. “The Dauntless-born initiates are like a pack of dogs. If I act the wrong way, they won’t let me run with them.”
This insightful comparison reveals Tris’s understanding of the social dynamics in Dauntless and her precarious position as a transfer initiate. It shows her developing awareness of how to navigate this new world.
4. “I pray the heat in my cheeks is not visible. ‘Oh? What did he say?’”
This vulnerable moment reveals Tris’s hidden feelings for Four through her physical reaction to hearing his name. The quote captures the beginning of her romantic tension and her attempt to mask her interest.
5. “I ignore it and nod. I do know that Four is not a coward. But I also know that at least one thing does scare him: heights.”
This shows Tris’s growing intimacy with Four’s character and fears, while also foreshadowing the upcoming challenge. Her private knowledge contrasts with the public perception of Four, demonstrating their special connection.