_____________________________
Imagine deciding your future at the age of sixteen. This is expected of Beatrice and her brother and all other sixteen-year-olds. With Divergent, author Veronica Roth creates another almost-believable dystopic world, one that is set, this time, in Chicago.
According to the author, the setting chose her. As she pondered on her setting, she realize it was her own setting of Chicago because of the trains that all run above ground in this city. This setting dramatically impacts the actions performed by the characters, as this dystopic world affects the culture that each faction lives within. For example, Abnegation, a selfless people, seek to make others happy, giving up seats on a bus, as Beatrice's brother Caleb does. The setting most affects the Dauntless, who love an adrenaline rush. Imagine a zipline from a one hundred story building. Imagine jumping from a moving train. Fighting to stay alive. Enduring extreme pain to win.
As you read be prepared for Roth's warning, yes, a theme, one of the lessons that she wants her readers to consider is imperfections always lie within what seemingly appears perfect. Beatrice's world is divided into five factions that each depict a particular virtue. So what could be better than being allowed to choose among several of these virtues? This Beatrice must do, realizing only later that this also makes her different: a Divergent. This begins her battle towards self-realization and and learning that some do not want her to be different; some have no appreciation for Divergents.
Even more so than Beatrice, my favorite character is Four, a leader in the Dauntless faction. Maybe it is because he is the strong, silent type? Maybe because he helps those help themselves? Because he helps those when they can no longer help themselves? Because of these characteristics, Four appears older than his eighteen years, having learned much in this not-so-perfect world. According to him, "selflessness and bravery aren't that different." He lives both of this words, rarely putting himself before others (he could have been the main leader) and pushing himself and others, including Beatrice, to be more than they were so that they may enduring the Initiation phase.
Enjoy a book with one adventure after another? Then, yes, Divergent is for you. Hurry! Book two Insurgent is already out, with book three's release planned for sometime this fall.
Additional Note: I took the Faction Quiz at the end of the novel. I tied for Abnegation and Dauntless. Hummm...I suppose that means I am a selfless brave person. Really?! Give me minute to imagine that!
No comments:
Post a Comment