Analysis of Identity in Divergent by Veronica Roth Essay Example

In the book, Divergent by Veronica Roth, the author emphasizes the significance of maintaining one's identity in order to survive. Throughout the book, the protagonist Beatrice Prior (Tris) thinks differently from the other initiates during a game of capture the flag by climbing to the top of a ferris wheel instead of shooting and torturing her opponents. Tris states, “The best way to find them is not to argue about how to search for them, or how many to send out in a search party. It’s to climb as high as possible” (Roth 140). At this moment Tris realizes that the standard plan of killing and abusing others to find the flag is not the solution, so instead, she gets an idea to climb up something high to seek the flag. Beatrice is able to apply several aspects of herself, such as her kindness and selflessness, to conquer the game and survive while remaining true to her original character. This indicates that she uses her own identity and inner self to survive in difficult situations. Moreover, another way Tris uses her identity to survive is when she takes her first fear simulation. During this fear simulation, Tris must face and get over her fears in order to avoid being killed by the leaders.  Tris states, “I extend my arms and breathe. Crows push and prod at my sides, worming their way beneath me, and I let them” (Roth 235). During this moment of the simulation, Tris does not follow what initiates do. Most initiates fight back their fears to get out of their simulation however Tris knows that the simulation is fake so she lets the birds eat her. Because she is able to think differently she is able to get out of the simulation earlier and overcome her fears of birds and being killed by the leaders. Furthermore, the concept of identity and personal survival is also shown when Tris needs to act like she is being controlled. At the end of the book, all Dauntless initiates are injected with a serum so that the leader of Dauntless can find and kill whoever is divergent, and because all divergents are immune to the injection, it makes it easier for the leaders to find them. Tris states, “ It takes me a few seconds to realize that they move in unison, the same foot forward as the same arm swings back. I mimic them as best as I can” (Roth 417). At this moment Tris does not follow the other divergents, instead, she chooses to follow the initiates. Because the majority of the other divergents were unaware of what was going on, they did not react the same as the other initiates, which ultimately resulted in their deaths. Tris, on the other hand, had a different thought and pretended that the injection had worked on her, which saved her life because if she did not use her quick thinking skills to mislead the dauntless leader, he would have realized she was divergent and she would have died. Tris' knowledge enabled her to think quickly, resulting in her survival. The theme in Divergent by Veronica Roth is a crucial part of the story because it demonstrates how Tris maintains her individuality in order to survive.