Megan Lightcap - Blog Post 2

1. "I have a theory that selflessness and bravery aren't all that different." (336)

Four tells Tris that he does not truly belong in Dauntless, and that he should be in Abnegation. However, he could not stay in that faction so he chose Dauntless instead. His reasoning behind it is that he does not see the values of the two factions being that different. His selflessness makes him do things and act braver than he is because he is trying to protect someone else.

2.
So What Step 1:

QUESTION:
Why compare two completely different factions?

ANSWER:
The values of the different factions, even two that appear to be polar opposites from the surface, overlap in many ways. This shows that many people could be successful in multiple factions but slightly fit better into one specific faction. This cookie cutter way of life limits the individuality of everyone because people can only act according to one aspect of their life.

So What Step 2:

QUESTION:
Why is it important that Tobias points this out?

ANSWER:
Throughout the book, Tris is told that being Divergent, or fitting into multiple factions, is a bad thing. However, Tobias points out that since these factions are actually very similar, being Divergent is not actually a bad thing, but a very normal and natural thing.

So What Step 3:

QUESTION:
Why is this observation important to Tris?

ANSWER:
Tris has been so concerned about how terrible it is that she is Divergent and thinks that she is all alone in this situation, but at this moment, Tris knows that Tobias is also Divergent. She now knows that she has someone that she can rely on and talk to about her Divergence who knows what she is going through. Even more than that, she is able to accept that it is completely natural for her to fit into multiple factions and to not be ashamed of that.