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    Veronica Roth's novel Divergent challenges the idea that society should be divided based on a single defining human characteristic. In the novel, society is divided into five factions, each valued a different trait. The main character, Tris, is "Divergent" and does not fit within one faction. As someone with multiple abilities, she represents the idea that diversity among humans strengthens society. Throughout the book, Tris works to show that no single group should dominate and that considering all people is important for the success and prosperity of society. In the end, Roth argues that diversity is necessary for a functioning community.

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    Comp Book Essay

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    Veronica Roth's novel Divergent challenges the idea that society should be divided based on a single defining human characteristic. In the novel, society is divided into five factions, each valued a different trait. The main character, Tris, is "Divergent" and does not fit within one faction. As someone with multiple abilities, she represents the idea that diversity among humans strengthens society. Throughout the book, Tris works to show that no single group should dominate and that considering all people is important for the success and prosperity of society. In the end, Roth argues that diversity is necessary for a functioning community.

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    Veronica Roth's novel Divergent challenges the idea that society should be divided based on a single defining human characteristic. In the novel, society is divided into five factions, each valued a different trait. The main character, Tris, is "Divergent" and does not fit within one faction. As someone with multiple abilities, she represents the idea that diversity among humans strengthens society. Throughout the book, Tris works to show that no single group should dominate and that considering all people is important for the success and prosperity of society. In the end, Roth argues that diversity is necessary for a functioning community.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    95 views5 pages

    Comp Book Essay

    Uploaded by

    api-482153372
    Veronica Roth's novel Divergent challenges the idea that society should be divided based on a single defining human characteristic. In the novel, society is divided into five factions, each valued a different trait. The main character, Tris, is "Divergent" and does not fit within one faction. As someone with multiple abilities, she represents the idea that diversity among humans strengthens society. Throughout the book, Tris works to show that no single group should dominate and that considering all people is important for the success and prosperity of society. In the end, Roth argues that diversity is necessary for a functioning community.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as pdf or txt
    of 5

    Angell 1

    Adrienne Angell

    Mrs. Cramer

    College Composition 1

    15 November 2019

    The Imperfections of Society: Divergent by Veronica Roth

    Take a minute and think about the essential human characteristics that make you

    successful and set you apart from others. Now think about the characteristics and skills of the

    people in your community. Finally, pick one characteristic that you believe is the driving factor

    in the success of humans. The reason you couldn’t pick one is because humans are complex and

    diverse. This complexity and diversity are the driving factors in the success of humans.

    Divergent is a novel that challenges this fact. The author, Veronica Roth, created a society

    centered around five traits that the original leaders deemed as integral to the continuation of

    humans. The population is split into five groups: Candor who value honesty, Erudite who value

    intelligence, Abnegation who value selflessness, Amity who value peace, and Dauntless who

    value bravery. Teenagers choose a faction and are forced to follow these values. Tris has a

    unique characteristic. She is Divergent, which means she fits into multiple factions. Divergence

    is dangerous because it increases mental strength. An uprising of people with unique

    characteristics and abilities could destroy the structure in Chicago. Divergent is an extreme

    reflection of society today. Veronica Roth’s Divergent challenges the reader’s beliefs about

    human characteristics that are important in society and establishes that diversity among humans

    strengthens society.
    Angell 2

    Firstly, every human has specific characteristics that define their identity, so Roth wanted

    to express how significant these differences are by dividing a society into certain traits. Erudite,

    Dauntless, and Candor can be compared to political parties around the world. They are

    opinionated and unwilling to waiver from their ideal models of society. Abnegation and Amity

    are pacifistic. The members of the Divergent population are hidden, but they can be compared to

    the outspoken people today who are working to create a society without ideal models. They are

    the ones who can see the flaws in the system and that the factions need to work together. Tris

    was hidden under the gray cloaks of Abnegation, who promoted neutralism. Tris’ elite nature

    showed when she chose to become Dauntless. Due to all these factors, Tris was put in a place

    where she could conform to society or be unique, but for her own well-being, she went the safe

    route. Tris tried to focus on being brave during her initiation in order to show no signs of

    Divergence (Roth 87). The second stage of the initiation tests fears, and Tris finished the

    stimulation four times faster than the average initiate. Tris can use all five characteristics, and

    more, to efficiently fight her fears (Roth 232-238). Additionally, she realizes that the simulation

    is fake, and she can defeat the challenges without experiencing her fears (Roth 254-255). This

    shows Divergent can alter the technology and see the flaws in the system. The unique traits that

    the Divergent have are present in today’s activists for a diverse society. Roth is trying to

    demonstrate that the members of society using all their abilities to accomplish tasks are more

    efficient. Throughout the book, Tris attempts to express that society needs revised and the world

    isn't as balanced as it was designed to be. Therefore, Roth is implying that today’s society needs

    productive change in terms of holding up the oppressed, the Divergent, and teaching humans that

    the world will never fit into any model.


    Angell 3

    Additionally, the concept that diversity among humans is essential to existence is still a

    heavy message to express to the majority. Roth shows the power and influence of the majority

    when she illustrates the war Erudite and Dauntless are planning on Abnegation. Erudite has

    access to all the technology, and Dauntless has a large trained army. Both factions knew

    Divergent would plot against them and some members wouldn’t agree to fight, so they had to

    design a way to control these factors and filter out Divergent. Roth illustrates the beginning of

    the war in the following excerpt:

    I start to hear popping sounds. I can't look around to see where they're coming from, but
    the farther I walk, the louder and sharper they get, until I recognize the man-he is a
    council member. The soldier takes her gun out of her holster and, with sightless eyes,
    fires a bullet into the back of the council member’s skull. (Roth 422)
    Erudite designed technology that controlled the minds of non-Divergent people. The Divergent

    were meant to stand out, but Tris hides and outsmarts the leaders and, eventually, stops the

    simulation. Tris ends the war. She shows the capacity of one Divergent person and the extensive

    abilities they have. This exert illustrates the perilousness of one characteristic, or rather one

    group of people, controlling everything. Peter was one of Tris’ competitors in the initiation, and

    he was willing to do anything to have control. He wanted to throw Tris into the chasm (Roth

    277-281). Tris escapes, but Peter exemplifies the necessity for diversity. He was driven by

    jealousy and was blinded of any other reasoning about the consequences of his actions. Tris

    challenged him by having a superior mental ability. Overall, Chicago fell apart when dominated

    by single-minded people, so in order to be triumphant, diversity is needed.

    In conclusion, Divergent is an extreme reflection of society today. Veronica Roth’s

    Divergent challenges the reader’s beliefs about human characteristics that are important in

    society and establishes that diversity among humans strengthens society. Fortunately, as new

    generations mature, the idea of diversity spreads. Roth targeted the young adult audience in order
    Angell 4

    to instill that message in them. We need to consider everyone, the planet, and our morals when

    making any decision that determines the fate of society. Tris had help along the way from people

    who thought differently than her. Roth developed a noteworthy novel with an abundance of

    influential messages. Altogether, Divergent by Veronica Roth supports the message of accepting

    diversity among humans to promote sustainability and prosperity.


    Angell 5

    Work Cited

    Roth, Veronica. Divergent. London: Harper Collins, 2011. Print.

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