Divergent

After walking through a passageway, the Dauntless are divided into the Dauntless-born and the newcomers. “Four” introduces himself as their instructor and tells them that they are about to go to the Pit, and Christina starts to snicker. Four hisses at her to be quiet and Tris observes that, while he had seemed placid at first, there is something about this stillness that makes her wary now.

They enter the Pit: a huge underground cavern with storage built into the walls and inhabited exclusively by young people. This prompts Tris to wonder whether the Dauntless die young or whether they are banished when they can no longer jump from trains. As she watches children running along a narrow path with no railing, she is conscious of how different this world is to the one she has left behind. This makes her nervous, yet “there is something wonderful about Dauntless chaos” (64).

Four leads the newcomers to a precipice overlooking water crashing against the rocks. He informs them that there is a fine line between bravery and idiocy and that “‘A daredevil jump off this ledge will end your life’” (65). He then leads them to a dining hall and they find empty seats and food that Tris finds unfamiliar, such as hamburgers. Christina is surprised that she has not seen one before, but Four informs her that “Stiffs” (Abnegations) eat plain food. A menacing young man then enters the hall and everyone becomes quiet, with Four explaining that his name is Eric and that he is a Dauntless leader. Christina is surprised by this, given that the man looks so young, but Four says that age does not matter. Tris is about to ask him what does matter, but Eric approaches their table and asks to be introduced to the newcomers. He consequently smirks at Tris, identifying her as a “Stiff” and saying, “‘We’ll see how long you last’” (67).

As Eric and Four engage in conversation, Tris observes that there seems to be an underlying tension between the two. Tris speculates that Eric sees Four as a threat to his own position. She cannot contain her curiosity, and questions Four after Eric has left. Four reveals that Eric was formerly an Erudite, and Tris asks Four if he had also been a transfer. However, Four is annoyed by her questions and tells Tris to be careful.

After dinner, Eric announces that he will be overseeing a significant part of the initiates’ training and lays down some ground rules about training times. He adds that initiates are free to do whatever they like after six o’ clock, and Tris is struck by the difference from life in Abnegation, where no one was ever free to do what they wanted. Tris realizes that she does not even know what she likes to do. Eric concludes by saying that no one is allowed outside the compound without another Dauntless, and leads them to their sleeping quarters.

There are more beds in the sleeping quarters than there are people, but Eric says that there are always some initiates who never make it to the compound. He also states that the native Dauntless are initially ranked above newcomers, but that members of both groupings are ranked at the end of initiation. This ranking serves two purposes. Firstly, it determines the order in which they will be allowed to choose a job. Secondly, only the top ten initiates become members.

As Eric talks, it becomes apparent that even those who make it through every stage of initiation will be subject to a cull at the end of the process, and that those who do not make the cut will be left factionless. Tris is conscious that, as the lone Abnegation transfer, her odds are not good. Another girl yells that the situation is unfair, as they had not known about it beforehand. Eric, however, says that anyone put off by this should not be in Dauntless and that those who really want to belong are not worried about failing—if they are, then they are cowards. He concludes that the initiates chose Dauntless but, now, it is up to Dauntless to choose who will belong.

That night, as Tris lies in bed a tear slips from her eye as she thinks of home. She knows that she cannot cry here though, and she tells herself to calm down. Even so, she is pained by memories of her family and the knowledge that they may not visit her. Her brooding is interrupted when she hears a boy named Al sobbing in the bunk next to her. He had appeared strong and Tris had not expected him to break down. She knows from her time in Abnegation that she should comfort him, but instead she feels disgusted that someone so strong should act so weak.

Tris considers the possibility that her greatest problem is not that she cannot go home, but that, even if she could, she would not belong there “among people who give without thinking and care without trying” (75).

Four informs the initiates that today they will learn how to fire a gun and how to win a fight. Tris feels uneasy holding a gun, but Four tells them that “‘preparation eradicates cowardice’” (77). He also specifies that there are three stages of initiation: the first stage is mostly physical, the second emotional, and the third mental.

As she embarks on target practice, Tris reflects that her family would disapprove. Still, she pushes such thoughts from her mind and fires the gun awkwardly, missing the target by a considerable margin. She continues to flounder for some time before getting the hang of things and finally managing to hit the target. She realizes that “There is power in controlling something that can do so much damage—in controlling something, period” (79), and she starts to feel that maybe she does belong in Dauntless.

During lunch, Tris thinks back to the aptitude tests and the danger associated with Divergence. This has not been a problem so far, but she is conscious of secretly being branded Divergent and is worried about others finding out. She also worries about what will happen if the danger does not come soon but rather years down the line.

A boy called Will asks to sit with Tris and Christina, as his two fellow Erudite transfers, Edward and Myra, are in a relationship and he does not want to feel like a third wheel. Looking across at the couple and seeing them kiss, Tris wonders what it's like. She expresses her annoyance at people kissing in public, but, as the other initiates are not from Abnegation, they are much more relaxed about this. Tris gets angry when they tease her about being frigid, but she forces herself to laugh and is surprised when this laughter starts to come naturally—it feels good to laugh again.

After lunch, Four leads the initiates into a new room and tells them that their next task is to learn how to fight. He demonstrates some moves, and each initiate is given a punching bag for practice. Four observes them throughout and, when he dismisses them for dinner, Christina remarks to Tris that she finds him scary. Tris does not think that Four is dangerous but she agrees that he is intimidating.

Now that the day’s training is finished, the initiates can do whatever they want. Christina drags Tris to a clothes shop, branding her friend’s clothes “ugly and gigantic” (86). They subsequently pick out some clothing and Christina restyles Tris’s hair and applies some makeup for her. When Tris sees her reflection, her heart rate increases and she is conscious that it is hard to get over Abnegation thinking and the sense that she is breaking the rules.

Tris does not feel that she is looking at herself for the first time but that she is looking at someone else for the first time. Her reflection seems like that of a different person, and Tris realizes that the idea of leaving her Abnegation identity behind no longer makes her nervous. In fact, it gives her hope.

Tris and Christina then meet Will and Al at the tattoo parlor. Tris is not used to seeing the type of artwork that adorns the walls, but she is also surprised to find Tori working there. Tori informs her that she had taken a break to administer the tests but that this is her main job. Tris says that she would like to talk to Tori sometime, but Tori replies that it would be unwise. Tris believes that Tori has answers and resolves that she will pry them from her further down the line. For now, though, Tori asks Tris if she would like a tattoo. Tris remembers that Tori’s tattoo symbolized her triumph over fear, and Tris wonders if there is a way to honor her old life while embracing her new one. She consequently says that she would like a tattoo of three birds to symbolize the family members she left behind. 

Thinking about her friendship with Christina, Tris is aware that she has never had any real friends before, as people could not talk about themselves or accept help in Abnegation. That day, the initiates engage in a one-on-one fighting task, though the odd numbers mean that Tris has a reprieve. As they watch the other fighters, Christina and Tris gossip, though Tris is embarrassed to be engaging in such self-indulgent chat. Christina makes it clear that she had always disliked the other initiates who, like her, transferred from the Candor faction. Moreover, she has made her dislike clear to the people in question. She says that this is not a big deal: people in Candor are used to voicing their true feelings.

While Four is present during the exercise, Eric issues orders and tells initiates that the fight is not over until one party is unable to continue. Four counters that, according to Dauntless rules, they are allowed to concede. However, Eric says that these are the old rules and that, under the new rules, a brave man never surrenders. Tris feels that she is looking at two different brands of Dauntless identity: one honorable and one ruthless. In any case, it is clear that Eric has more authority than Four.

During a prolonged fight, Al charges at Will and hits him in the jaw. Will falls to the ground and lies there dazed while Eric orders him to get up and circles Al’s name on the chalkboard to signify he is the victor. Christina is then instructed to fight another former Candor initiate, Molly, while Will has to be dragged out of the arena. Four leaves with him and Tris is nervous to be left with Eric.

Christina and Molly fight savagely, and blood runs down Christina’s face. As she starts sobbing, Tris wishes that she would fall unconscious. Christina pleads for Molly to stop, and everyone is relieved—everyone except Eric, that is. He yanks Christina to her feet and drags her away, telling the other initiates to follow. He leads them to the railing of the Pit and orders Christina to climb over. He tells her that, if she can hang over the chasm for five minutes, he will forget her cowardice. Otherwise, he will not allow her to continue with her initiation. Hanging from the railing is risky, and Tris knows Christina faces a choice between being factionless and death.

Christina agrees to hang over the chasm, and Eric sets his watch. At first, Christina is alright. However, as the water sprays against her, her face hits the barrier and her hands slip so that she is holding the railing by her fingertips. Tris knows that if she tries to help her fate will be the same as Christina’s. Should she help anyway? She knows what her parents would say, but she is not her parents. Now, one of Christina’s hands slips from the railing altogether. As she watches, Tris wonders how long she has spent being “disgustingly selfish” (102).

Christina manages to grab hold of the railing once more, and Tris resolves to help her if she loses her hold again. However, with the next wave, both of Christina’s hands lose grip. Tris screams, but Christina manages to grab the bars of the barrier. Finally, the five minutes are up and Al goes against Eric’s orders by insisting on helping Christina over the railing. Eric says nothing, and Tris goes to help Al.

That night, Tris dreams about Christina hanging from the railing while someone shouts that only a Divergent can help her. Tris then dreams that she runs forward to help, only for someone to shove her over the edge. Waking up before she hits the rocks below, she goes to the bathroom but returns to find the word “Stiff” spray-painted on her bed. She sees another initiate, Peter, fluffing his pillows and knows that he is responsible. She asks why he would act that way when they are both in the same faction, but he feigns ignorance before saying that they will never be in the same faction.

Al comes over to help Tris strip the bedding, and she asks him how Will is. Al replies that Will is fine but that it is not ideal to be remembered as the first guy to knock someone out cold. He would rather be remembered as the first jumper, like Tris; Tris worries that this may be where her Dauntless qualifications begin and end. She reasons with Al that either he or Will had to get knocked out, but Al says that he does not want to do it again. Tris thinks that maybe he is too kind for Dauntless.

Looking at the fight schedule, Tris sees that she will have to take part this time and that her opponent is Peter. Peter is almost a foot taller than her and had pummeled Drew within the space of five minutes the previous day. Four has told them to exploit their opponent’s weaknesses, but Peter does not seem to have any.

When they begin to fight, Peter enjoys toying with Tris, but Eric snaps at him to get on with it. Peter then starts punching and kicking Tris, causing her to fall. She forces herself to get back up, but falls again shortly after when Peter shoves her. Again, she makes herself get up, and punches as hard as she can—despite barely being able to see on account of her disorientation. Peter barely groans though, and even laughs as he punches Tris again. At this point, Four shoves the door open and walks out, while Tris starts screaming as her knees give out and something slams into her side. Someone then shouts ‘“Enough!”’ (111).

Tris wakes in hospital, aware that she as lost the fight. Still, when Christina and Al visit her, Al reassures her that Peter will get his comeuppance when he faces Edward, who has been studying hand-to-hand combat since he was ten. He then informs her that there will be a field trip the next day, in which they will learn about Dauntless jobs. Before leaving, he informs Tris that her face does not look that bad and that she looks brave—Dauntless. As his eyes meet hers, silence falls and Tris is uneasy. She cannot imagine being attracted to someone so fragile and tries to smile in an attempt to diffuse the tension.

Just before Al leaves, Tris asks him whether his situation is getting any easier. He is visibly embarrassed, and Tris thinks that, if she spent every night crying into her pillow, she would be embarrassed too. Still, he says that things are getting a little better, and adds that he lost his fight with Drew by staying down after he had been hit—even though he could have got up. He hopes that, since he won his first fight, he could lose every other fight and still avoid being ranked last while also avoiding causing any more hurt. He wonders if he is a coward and Tris tries to reassure him, but only because she knows that it’s the right thing to do; she is not sure whether she means it.

The topic then turns to family visits. Tris does not know whether a visit from her family would be good or bad. Al concludes that things are hard enough already, and that a visit would just make them worse. He leaves, and Tris thinks about the Abnegation initiates visiting their families and interacting with them for the first time as adults. She used to look forward to asking her parents questions at the dinner table. As for the Dauntless-born initiates, they will also soon receive visits from their families, though Tris can only speculate what such visits must entail—maybe throwing knives at one another’s heads.

While some transfer initiates might receive visits from forgiving parents, but Tris suspects that her own parents will not be among them. She wonders if they would have understood if she had told them that she was Divergent and expressed her confusion. As she had not trusted them, though, she will never know.

Later that night, she slips away from her hospital bed to return to the dormitory, refusing to give Peter the satisfaction of landing her in hospital overnight.