Adriahna Rutland-Blog Post 2

In Divergent, Veronica Roth writes, "Peace is restrained; this is free" (pg. 250).

 In this passage, Tris is talking about the differences in the way Dauntless and Abnegation let their people act. Dauntless children are allowed to get tattoos and dress how they choose whereas the children in abnegation are not supposed to ask questions at the dinner table or look at a mirror. This quote is pointing out that the peacefulness of abnegation is not the same as the freedom of dauntless.


 Step 1:
Question: Why does Roth compare peace to freedom?

 Answer: People may assume that peace and freedom go hand in hand because if we have peace than we have the freedom of not having to worry about threats. However, Roth is implying that peace comes at a price and that price is sometimes giving up personal freedoms in order to keep the peace. That's why the children of abnegation are not allowed to gossip because gossip could lead to a disrupt in the peace of their faction by causing arguments.


 Step 2:
Question: What is the significance of implying that peace comes at a price?

 Answer: By implying that peace comes at a price Roth is also implying that peace limits us. In divergent, they keep the peace by dividing everyone into factions. Dividing people into factions limits their oppurtunities to show qualities of every faction because they must remain loyal to the one they're in.


Step 3:
 Question: Where does this leave us?

 Answer: This leaves us wondering whether or not peace is worth the sacrifice and if it's better to have peace instead of freedom.