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Emily Zawatski

Mrs. Cramer

College Composition I

11 November 2016

Divergent's Factions and Theme

The book Divergent written by Veronica Roth is a fiction book that takes place in a

futuristic society where an apocalypse had occurred. Jeanine Matthews, the one in charge of the

rebuilding of society, separated the last living into groups depending on their ability and choice

which is determined by an aptitude test. Tris Prior, the main character does not fit into just one

faction, the groups people are categorized in; what she is called is Divergent, which is

unacceptable in that society. The theme of the book is that being unordinary is acceptable and the

power of goodwill will overpower greed in any situation. This book has an indirect theme that is

able to be passed on to the reader through the symbolism of the factions.

First of all, the theme of Divergent is that if something is different or more superior it is

are not useless or a threat to society and a revolution can become of it by goodwill. Having more

abilities should be praised upon and not belittled to think that people are unnatural or unhuman-

like because of them. The theme of the story is made known to the reader by the factions,

different types of people and their abilities that are categorized into groups. The main factions

are Abnegation, which is for the selfless, Dauntless for the brave, Erudite for the intelligent,

Amity for the peaceful, and Candor for the honest. The faction that is looked at as a deadly

disease is called Divergent and anyone that is known to be Divergent in that society is killed

because he/she can not be categorized into a faction. Divergents are looked at as an unknown
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killer that is executed without examination or explanation. Divergents are able to fit in every

faction, but they are not able to use their true potential and will be killed if they attempt to. The

factions and Tris's differntiality are what make the theme of the story.

Secondly, factions symbolize different abilities, strengths, and passions of the people of

this society. There are many factions that have been able to keep this society stabilized for years.

The faction that is looked down upon is called Divergent, which happens rarely, but when a

Divergent is discovered the person is executed. A Divergent is a person that does not fit into just

one category, but all of the factions. Tris, along with her parents, are Divergent and Tris was

unaware until she took a second altitude test and the person conducting the test escorted her out

immediately as she was done. She also was able to outrank most the people in her factions that

made her stand out, not only to the leaders, but the government officials. Tris was looked at as

either the best or the worst depending on the person's rank in power. For example, in the book

Peter Hayes was Tris's worst enemy because he was frustrated by her easily outranking him

when he tried as hard as he could. Peter was not her only enemy though, as Tris became the

ultimate of her faction, the government was soon realizing what she was.

Finally, the government was out to destroy her and her abilities as quickly as they were

realized to stop the Divergent before she realized it herself. Tris had to stop herself from using

her true potential to hide the fact that she was Divergent. She later found out that some of her

friends in her faction were Divergent as well and aggravated they were only able to be express

one of their abilities. Tris soon teamed up with Four, her parents, and an abundant amount of

other less important characters to fight back for the right of individuality. All of their abilities of

each faction was able to overthrow, Jeanine Matthews, who was trying to control all the factions
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and the people within them. This goes to show that it is wrong to ridicule or belittle people for

their talents because they may be different, but they may be ameliorated.

Divergent is not only a book title, it is also a faction that breaks the boundaries of every

individual only having one talent or speciality. Divergent has a hidden meaning to it that proves

to be an astonishment in the futuristic society when the cruel, power hungry government was

overpowered by the goodwill of the people they feared most, the Divergents. The theme was not

acknowledgeable until the end of the book when the government was overpowered and defeated

by multi talented individuals that support that good always wins against evil. The factions in the

book helped convey the theme through Tris being different from the rest and coming together

with other Divergents showing that goodwill always overpower people.