Theme Of Choices And Character Analysis In The Novel Divergent

Independent Study Unit Name Institution Theme and Character Analysis in the Novel Divergent It is common to find people leaving their homes in search of better lives. On most occasions, people do not meet those dreams. Not all things people see as good end up being so and neither do bad things. In the novel Divergent, Veronica Roth leaves her family in her quest to find a better life. In the end, she learns that it is never easy to find the good life, but she ends up exposing and destroying the plan of the villain to sabotage the government. To better get the understanding of the novel, I will look at two dominant themes and two main characters. Theme of Choices and Identity The book Divergent is in a way about people choosing what they are. In the novel, most of the characters are young adults who want to find their own identities and determine the kind of personality that they ought to have. There are many ways through which people change their identities in the novel, but finding an identity is never easy. Roth (33) notes that: “People who get this kind of result are..." She looks over her shoulder like she expects someone to appear behind her. "...are called...Divergent." In the quote above, Tris has to make a decision on who she wants to become. The sentence here reminds us that it is important for one to find their identity. The fact that Tris is nervous and whispers is a pointer that she is trying to find her identity (Hintz, Basu & Broad, 2013). Even as people strive to have new identities, they find it hard to let go of what they have been used to. As Roth (51) notes: “I look at my reflection in the small mirror on the back wall and see a stranger. She is blond like me, with a narrow face like mine, but that's where the similarities stop. I do not have a black eye, and a split lip, and a bruised jaw. I am not as pale as a sheet. She can't possibly be me, though she moves when I move.” Although Tris has changed, she never wants to admit it. She is unable to recognize herself and still holds on to what she has known she was in the past (Hintz et al., 2013). Tris knew herself as a neat girl. Letting go of an old identity and choosing a new one is one of the most difficult tasks. Even in the quest to find new identities, it is never possible for anyone to act the way they feel, the way that their identity should define. As noted by Roth (63): “People tend to overestimate my character," I say quietly. "They think that because I'm small, or a girl, or a Stiff, I can't possibly be cruel. But they're wrong." I shift the gun three inches to the left and fire at his arm.” In the quote above, Tris appears to be acting in one way and feeling in a different way. Even though Tris says she is cruel, she feels sorry about that statement.  Even though she says that she is cruel, she is keen to remind us that she is never a mean person. It makes someone wonder how many cruel things one has to do before they really start being cruel. The Theme of Fear For many people, fear stems from every part of their lives. It is hard for many people to survive in an environment of fear because they never know how to deal with it. In the quote below, Roth (64) depicts Tori’s fear: “"You're afraid of heights," I say. "How do you survive in the Dauntless compound?" "I ignore my fear," he says. "When I make decisions, I pretend it doesn't exist." I stare at him for a second. I can't help it. To me there's a difference between not being afraid and acting in spite of fear, as he does” The statement suggests that the best way to deal with fear is acting as if that fear never bothers you. It is important to show that one is not fearless. It is important for people to ensure that they are resistant to fear. People often fear the unknown, things that are symbolic and we do not expect in daily life. This is best shown by the quote from Roth (74): “In the past four days, I faced four fears. In one I was tied to a stake and Peter set a fire beneath my feet. In another I was drowning again, this time in the middle of an ocean as the water raged around me. In the third, I watched as my family slowly bled to death. And in the fourth, I was held at gunpoint and forced to shoot them. I know what fear is now.” One wonders why Tris is not afraid of the normal things like drowning and fire. The begging question is: why are the feelings of Tris just symbolic? Tris is never afraid of the normal things like spiders that most people fear. When people talk about fear, they often think that it is the same. The misconception is that the fear that I feel is the fear that another individual feels. This is never the case, there are different types of fear. Roth (20) notes: “My fear is being with him. I have been wary of affection all my life, but I didn't know ...