Enduring Understandings

Characters:

In Divergent and Insurgent, Veronica Roth builds complex characters that develop and gain motivations throughout the novel in order to drive the narrative forward and connect deeply with readers. The main character, Tris Prior, is introduced as a member of the Abnegation faction, where selflessness is their main characteristic. However, Tris soon discovers that she is Divergent, someone who doesn't fit neatly into one faction and has the characteristics of many. This realization is not only a central plot point but also a metaphor for the larger theme of identity in a heavily controlled society. Tris is fighting an internal battle of trying to make peace with her true self but also battling the expectations imposed by the factions. This forms the emotional core of both novels. Her journey is a battle between societal constraints and personal autonomy, as she navigates the harsh initiation trials in Dauntless and uncovers a growing rebellion led by the Erudite faction. As Tris faces increasingly difficult decisions, she is forced to confront her own beliefs, insecurities, and fears, illustrating how characters in literature can reflect larger societal issues like control, conformity, and individual choice.

Tris’s relationship with Tobias Eaton (Four) serves as a key element of her character development. Tobias represents the opposite end of the spectrum from Tris in many ways: where Tris is unsure of herself, Tobias exudes confidence and authority, yet he carries emotional scars and trauma from his past. Through their developing relationship, Roth explores the theme of trust, vulnerability, and how two complex characters can find strength in each other. Tobias helps ground Tris as she grapples with the overwhelming chaos and violence that surrounds her. On the other hand, secondary characters like Christina, Caleb, and Peter provide additional perspectives on the themes of loyalty, betrayal, and self-preservation. For example, Caleb’s defection to the Erudite faction serves as a major plot point, highlighting the conflict between family loyalty and the temptation to align with more powerful forces. Roth utilizes each character to explore the complexity of personal motivations in a system built on division.

Ultimately, Roth demonstrates how characters’ choices—whether in moments of great danger or subtle internal conflict—reveal what they value and who they are. Through Tris’s evolution from a passive member of Abnegation to a powerful, self-empowered individual, Roth creates a protagonist who mirrors the tension between self-discovery and societal expectations. The choices Tris makes, especially when faced with moral dilemmas, highlight the complexity of identity and the role of agency in defining one’s self.

Setting:

The setting of Divergent and Insurgent is not just a backdrop but an active, dynamic force that shapes the characters and reflects the central themes of the story. The dystopian society in which the story unfolds is divided into five factions: Abnegation, Dauntless, Erudite, Amity, and Candor. These factions are established based on specific virtues, each one controlling a segment of society and imposing strict rules and behaviors on its members. The settings within each faction—ranging from the boring, assimilated buildings of Abnegation to the chaotic, adrenaline-pumping environment of Dauntless—mirror the values they represent. In Divergent, Roth uses these settings to establish both the tone and mood of the novel, depicting a society that is so controlled and oppressive that it prevents individuality from taking place. The narrative moves from the gray and controlled world of Abnegation to the more harsh and dangerous environment of Dauntless, with each new setting highlighting the tension between conformity and freedom.

The setting in Insurgent expands on this dystopian world, adding new locations that reflect the growing chaos and fracture within society. As Tris, Tobias, and their allies move through various districts, the tension between the factions intensifies. The once-controlled city of Chicago becomes a battleground where the factions are in war with one another. Roth’s descriptions of ruined buildings, secret hideouts, and war-torn spaces create a sense of urgency and instability. The city, once an orderly representation of factional harmony, has now become a symbol of the collapse of the societal structure that the factions once represented. The physical ruining of the city mirrors the moral decay and disintegration of the ideals upon which the factions were built. Roth uses setting not only as a symbol of the plot’s unfolding conflicts but also to deepen the emotional stakes of the story.

Moreover, Roth contrasts the settings of the faction headquarters with the natural world. Amity’s peaceful farms are portrayed as charming but distant from the political struggles of the city, highlighting the contrast between those who seek peace and those who are caught in the crossfire of the faction war. This contrast between the urban environment and the more natural settings reinforces the novel’s theme of the tensions between human nature, societal control, and the quest for freedom. Through these different environments, Roth creates a sense of place that enhances the story's exploration of power, identity, and rebellion, making the setting an crucial part of the narrative’s thematic concerns.

Plot/Structure:

The plot and structure of Divergent and Insurgent are perfectly intertwined, with Roth utilizing a combination of storytelling, flashbacks, and moments of suspense to heighten the emotional intensity and complexity of the story. In Divergent, the plot follows Tris’s journey from her initiation into Dauntless to her discovery of the Erudite faction’s plan to overthrow the government. Roth skillfully builds the plot through a series of challenges that Tris must face during the Dauntless initiation trials, such as overcoming her fears in simulations, while slowly revealing the larger conspiracy within the factions. The timing in Divergent is fast and action-packed, reflecting the high-stakes environment in which Tris lives. The story reaches its climax when Tris, faced with the collapse of her society, makes multiple crucial decisions that lead to the outbreak of factional conflict.

Insurgent, on the other hand, expands the plot by intensifying the conflict between the factions. Roth uses a complex story structure, where the central plot—Tris’s quest to find a way to stop the Erudite—intertwines with a secondary plot involving the rebellion caused by the faction war. As Tris, Tobias, and their allies try to secure alliances with the different factions, the plot shifts between intense action, negotiations, and moments of personal outlook. Roth structures Insurgent with a strong sense of disconnection compared to Divergent, reflecting the fracturing society and the characters’ internal struggles. Roth’s choice to break the straightforward plot through flashbacks and inner dialogue allows the reader to see Tris’s evolving understanding of her world and her role in it.

The pacing of both books is designed to keep readers on edge, with Roth utilizing short, sharp chapters to heighten suspense and create a sense of urgency. In Insurgent, the structure also plays with the idea of shifting allegiances, making the plot unpredictable. Roth employs moments of foreshadowing and unexpected twists, such as the betrayal of key characters, which challenge the reader’s expectations and keep the stakes high. The structure of both novels reflects the emotional and psychological battles the characters are going through, while also driving the action forward. By carefully balancing action, internal conflict, and political structure, Roth creates a complex narrative that is both thrilling and thought-provoking.

Speaker:

In Divergent and Insurgent, Roth’s decision to use a first-person narrator, Tris, gives the reader an intimate connection to her thoughts and emotions. This builds a deeper connection and understanding to what her internal battles are, and enhances the reader’s investment in her journey. The first-person perspective allows Tris’s internal struggles and character development to be front and center, providing insight into her fears, doubts, and motivations as she navigates a divided society. Tris’s narration is often self-reflective, revealing her complex emotions and her evolving understanding of the world around her. This perspective emphasizes the theme of identity, as Tris constantly questions who she is and how she fits into the faction system. Especially since she doesn’t belong to one faction, being Divergent. As Tris faces difficult choices and confronts powerful enemies, her narration allows readers to experience the full weight of her decisions, creating an emotional connection that is crucial to understanding her growth and development.

Roth also uses Tris’s voice to explore the themes of sacrifice, loyalty, and love. As Tris forms relationships with characters like Tobias (Four), Christina, and Caleb, her perspective allows readers to understand the details of these connections and the emotional stakes involved. The romantic tension between Tris and Tobias, for example, is conveyed through Tris’s internal monologue, which reveals her conflicting emotions of love, fear, and trust. In addition to the first-person narration, Roth occasionally shifts to Tobias’s perspective, offering readers a different lens to view the events. This allows an additional perspective and juxtaposes these two narrators. These occasional shifts provide necessary context and depth to the relationship between Tris and Tobias, while also giving insight into Tobias’s struggles and his own internal conflicts like trust issues and daddy issues. 

The first-person narrative also serves to heighten the stakes of the plot, as Tris’s limited knowledge of the world outside of her factional system mirrors the reader’s discovery of the larger political forces at play. By keeping the narrative focused on Tris’s point of view, Roth allows the reader to get submerged in her personal growth and moral dilemmas, ensuring that every twist in the plot is experienced through the emotional lens of the protagonist, Tris. This intimate perspective reinforces the central theme of the books: that identity, choice, and the consequences of those choices define not only the character but also the world in which they live. Roth’s careful control of Tris’s narration makes the character’s internal journey as compelling as the external conflict.