Roth, Veronica — Divergent 01 — Divergent
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
by Veronica, Roth,In this chapter, Tris returns to the dormitory after visiting hours with families and finds Al alone, avoiding his parents. Al confesses he didn’t want to face their questions about his poor performance in Dauntless initiation, particularly his losing streak in fights. He reveals his parents secretly admired Dauntless, which influenced his faction choice, though he claims his primary motivation was to protect others, inspired by Tris’s bravery. Their conversation highlights Al’s struggle to reconcile his ideals of courage with the brutal reality of Dauntless training, leaving Tris reflecting on how the faction’s values have shifted over time.
The tension escalates when Al awkwardly expresses his feelings for Tris by putting his arm around her. Tris, uncomfortable with physical affection due to her upbringing, pulls away, creating a moment of mutual embarrassment. Though she regrets hurting him, Tris recognizes the personal nature of his feelings and the impossibility of reciprocating. She attempts to diffuse the situation with humor, but the encounter leaves their friendship strained. Tris’s internal conflict—balancing empathy for Al with her own boundaries—adds depth to their dynamic and underscores the emotional complexities of their initiation experience.
Later, at dinner, Tris, Al, Christina, and Will attempt normalcy, but the awkwardness between Tris and Al lingers. Their group’s lighthearted debate about pets contrasts with the underlying tension, particularly when Christina’s nostalgia for her dog triggers memories of the aptitude test. Tris’s anxiety spikes as the conversation brushes against the taboo subject of test results, reminding her of the secret she must protect: her Divergence. This moment reinforces her isolation and the constant pressure of hiding her true identity, even among friends.
The chapter closes with Tris’s unease about the upcoming stage one rankings, which will determine her standing in initiation. Her competitive drive clashes with her doubts, especially as Dauntless-born initiates pose a threat to her position. The juxtaposition of Al’s vulnerability, the strained friendship, and the looming rankings creates a sense of impending tension. Tris’s introspection—weighing her actions against her father’s ideals—hints at her moral growth, even as she navigates the cutthroat world of Dauntless initiation.
FAQs
1. How does Al explain his choice to join Dauntless, and how does this contrast with his current experience in initiation?
Answer:
Al explains that he chose Dauntless because he believes in protecting people and standing up for others, citing Tris’s defense of him as an example of true courage (unlike the faction’s current emphasis on senseless violence). This idealistic view contrasts sharply with his initiation experience, where he consistently loses fights and feels inadequate. The chapter reveals his disillusionment—while he expected Dauntless to embody noble protection, he instead encounters a culture that rewards aggression, leaving him conflicted about his place there. His parents’ admiration for Dauntless further complicates his feelings, as he fears disappointing them with his struggles.2. Analyze the significance of the awkward moment between Tris and Al. What does it reveal about their characters and the broader themes of the story?
Answer:
The moment Al puts his arm around Tris and she recoils highlights their emotional disconnect and the complexities of friendship under pressure. Tris’s discomfort stems from her Abnegation upbringing, which taught her to distrust casual physical affection, while Al’s embarrassment reveals his unrequited romantic feelings. This scene underscores broader themes of identity and belonging: Tris grapples with reconciling her past values with her new Dauntless life, and Al’s vulnerability exposes the faction’s failure to nurture his idealistic vision of courage. Their strained interaction also foreshadows potential future conflicts between personal loyalty and faction expectations.3. How does the chapter portray the tension between familial expectations and individual choice? Provide examples from both Al’s and Tris’s perspectives.
Answer:
The chapter explores this tension through Al’s avoidance of his parents—he fears their disappointment if they learn about his poor initiation performance, despite their supposed admiration for Dauntless. His comment that they “wouldn’t understand” his struggles reveals the pressure of living up to their hidden expectations. Tris, meanwhile, reflects on her father’s wisdom (“the best way to help someone is just to be near them”) as a moral compass, contrasting it with her guilt over actions he wouldn’t approve of (like breaking Molly’s nose). Both characters navigate the conflict between their chosen paths and the values instilled by their families.4. What does the conversation about pets between Christina and Will reveal about their faction backgrounds and the lingering effects of the aptitude test?
Answer:
The debate highlights their faction origins: Will’s Erudite logic dismisses pets as impractical (“an animal that just soils your furniture”), while Christina’s Candor nostalgia for her bulldog Chunker emphasizes emotional connection. Her abrupt shift in tone when mentioning how dogs are “ruined” for her after the aptitude test subtly hints at the test’s traumatic psychological impact—a rare acknowledgment of its lasting consequences. This exchange also demonstrates how initiates cautiously skirt around test details, adhering to the rule of silence while still grappling with its aftermath, particularly for those whose results clashed with their self-perception.5. How does Tris’s internal monologue after leaving Al demonstrate her conflicting emotions about Dauntless socialization and her own identity?
Answer:
Tris’s reaction is layered: she grins at being liked (a Dauntless-like thrill in social validation) but immediately rationalizes her discomfort with Al’s gesture by attributing it to her Abnegation upbringing. This duality captures her ongoing identity negotiation—she’s flattered by Dauntless attention yet clings to old norms. Her worry about the awkwardness lasting (“I want my friend back”) further shows her valuing genuine connection over faction posturing. The moment encapsulates her struggle to balance new social codes with her inherent reservedness, foreshadowing future conflicts between her divergent traits and faction expectations.
Quotes
1. “I think it’s important to protect people. To stand up for people. Like you did for me. That’s what the Dauntless are supposed to do, right? That’s what courage is. Not…hurting people for no reason.”
This quote from Al captures the core ideological conflict in Dauntless initiation—the contrast between true courage (protection) and the brutal aggression being taught. It reflects Tris’s growing doubts about the faction’s current values.
2. “My father used to say that sometimes, the best way to help someone is just to be near them.”
A poignant moment where Tris recalls her Abnegation upbringing while comforting Al. This simple wisdom contrasts with Dauntless bravado and shows how her past still guides her present actions.
3. “I feel braver when I’m around you, you know. Like I could actually fit in here, the same way you do.”
Al’s vulnerable admission reveals both his admiration for Tris and his struggle with belonging. The quote highlights how initiation is as much about social bonds as physical challenges.
4. “Awkwardness aside, it is nice to be liked.”
After rejecting Al’s romantic advance, Tris reflects on this bittersweet moment of adolescent awkwardness. The line captures her complex emotional growth—balancing self-awareness with compassion for others’ feelings.
5. “Dogs are sort of ruined for me. After…you know, after the aptitude test.”
Christina’s offhand remark about her fear of dogs subtly references the traumatic simulations all initiates endured. This shows how the testing continues to psychologically affect characters in unexpected ways.