Gavin Werner

"I sneak a look at my reflection when she isn't paying attention-not for the sake of vanity, but out of curiosity. A lot can happen to a person's appearance in three months." (Roth 1)

Question: Why does Roth include this?

Right at the start, this is showing how controlling the factions can be over the people. This faction isn't allowed to look into the mirror for the sake of vanity and so there is only one in the house, and its hidden from normal view. The faction is restrictive of a simple indulgence to see one's self in order to erase ideas such as vanity within the faction. It is setting up the idea of restrictions and rules that are ever present in the society and is followed up with how she expected reprimand for looking at herself.

Question: Why would this faction withhold mirrors?

Abnegation is the faction she starts out in, it is a faction that stands for selflessness. The idea of vanity could easily be seen as selfish but the extent that these factions go to erase any hint of such ideas that could undermine the core value is very thorough. Roth goes on to explain how they are required to hide individual beauty as well. It becomes clear that the idea of selflessness here requires lack of individuality.

Question: Why does Roth open the novel with this scene?

Roth opens by explaining that within this faction there can only be one mirror within the home. She explains that it can only be used once every three months and only for the purpose of cutting hair. It's a simple task and a simple thing to look into a mirror to see yourself and yet it is something these people are not allowed to do- all in the name of selflessness. Roth goes on to say that they cannot even have birthdays or show their unique physical characteristics. This opening is excellent because it shows how controlling the faction is and how the idea of selflessness has gone so far as to remove the individual from the equation in order to preserve selflessness.