Act of Bravery in Divergent

Your decision in life comes down to you and the path you choose, but one choice can transform you and your life forever. Veronica Roth created a world that depends on the choices people make in life, because ultimately in this dytopian world, choices define who they are as people. Her futuristic world is divided into five factions that all represent something different; Amity (the peaceful), Abnegation (the selfless), Euridite (the intelligent), Candor (the honest) and Dauntless (the brave). The book is set in a dystopian version of present-day Chicago.

The government controls absolutely everything: the home, the workplace, and the people. These five factions were made up to prevent war and bring peace to the world. As children of each faction turn sixteen they have the chance to choose to leave their family to move to a new faction or stay, but the choice all comes down to them. In the novel Divergent Veronica Roth observes how choices lead to bravery, betrayal and greed.

First we can identify Tris as being a round character. Being Divergent was not her choice, it was her fate. Tris has to go on a wild adventure to find herself. She is torn between finding herself through who she is, and who everyone else wants her to be. Her choice to leave abnegation and go into dauntless leads to bravery. Tris is a person of action, who has courage and is brave. If she never would have made the choice to leave her faction, she would have never learned to be brave enough to overcome her fears and turn from the underdog into a hero. In this story, bravery is represented as being selfish and foolish because the characters of Dauntless idea of bravery are acting in ridiculous life-threatening situations to prove who is most daring to participate. However, the definition of bravery is expressed as Tris goes through initiation. Not only does her choice to transfer into a different faction show her braveness but it also brought out her inner Abnegation and taught her how to be selfless as well. “I believe in ordinary acts in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another” (Roth 207). This quote is significant due to it shows how Tris resembles bravery itself. She proves bravery is not just about being strong and committing acts of ruthlessness; it is about standing up for what you believe is right and being the bigger person in a situation when no one else is. Her choice to be brave and stand up for others is what made her a hero in the end. She was able to channel other traits from other factions and create a new her. She was able to change herself and the way she thought and was no longer the old Beatrice from Abnegation. She became the brave, courageous, strong, smart, selfless Tris of Dauntless.

Next, choices lead to betrayal in this novel when Tris and her brother, Caleb choose to leave their faction and family for another. Before the choosing ceremony, “My father kisses me on the head and claps Caleb on the shoulder grinning. See you soon, he says, without a trace of doubt” (Roth 40-41). This quote shows how much hurt and betrayal they soon would cause their father, minutes later when neither of his children will be going home with him along with the sting from the fact Caleb would choose to be a member of Erudite, the enemy in his father’s eyes. Caleb can be identified as a flat character. He is simple and uncomplicated. He remains the same from start to finish. Tris states, “What irritates me most about him is his natural goodness, his inborn selflessness” (Roth 25). Even though Caleb switched factions, he soon finds startling information about Erudite and Dauntless, “I dropped out of initiation when I figured out what was happening. I would have warned you but it was too late,” he says. “I’m factionless now.” That is the same selfless Caleb we know from the beginning, that thinks of others before himself, even if it meant he would become factionless, he refused to be a part of Erudite plan to take over.

Lastly, the leader of Erudite chooses to start war over her own selfish reasons. The factions were divided into five to prevent war and destruction from occurring in the world. But she wants to destroy the Abnegation government and take over the city. She chooses to take over using physical and mental control to start a war and take down Abnegation. This proves that choices stem from greed, and in this instance those who have power live in fear of losing it, such as Jeanine. She is the dangerous one in this story based on the fact she is a genius. “Jeanine Matthews is Erudite sole representative, selected based on her IQ score. My father complains about her often” (Roth 43). “Absorbed into the Dauntless army. I know what that means-she wants to control them, too. She wants everyone to be pliable and easy to control” (Roth 430).

In summary  examines how choices lead to bravery, betrayal and greed. Some of the factions have come to adopt this idea of what is right and wrong, causing choices to be carried and impacted either by the value of bravery or cruelty. The factions were formed with good intentions for the people, by the people. “A long time ago, Erudite pursued knowledge and ingenuity for the sake of doing good. Now they pursue knowledge and ingenuity with greedy hearts” (Roth 206). With choices come consequences causing members to make noble social, cultural and moral decisions. As Tris says, thinking of the factions becoming brave and honorable again, “It is a beautiful thought” (Roth 207).

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