Victoria Lipinski Blog Post 2

1. "If conflict in Dauntless ends with only one person standing, I am unsure of what this part of initiation will do to me. Will I be Al, standing over a man's body, knowing I'm the one who put him on the ground, or will I be Will, lying in a helpless heap? And is it selfish of me to crave victory, or is it brave?" (97)

Summary: Tris is having these back-and-forth thoughts at the beginning of her journey as a Dauntless. She is hesitant to accept her new emotions and outlook on life; she does not know whether she should only focus on herself, or consider the well-being of others. 

2. So What Step 1:

 QUESTION: What does the observation imply?

ANSWER: This observation implies that Tris is having difficulty transitioning from her first faction to her new faction. Previously, she would have immediately helped anyone in need. She would put others before herself and would not have thought twice about it. Now, Tris has the ability to focus on herself first. This is a difficult switch for her because she was told her entire life that she could not do that. She is trying to find her place within her new faction. 

So What Step 2:

QUESTION: Why does this observation matter?

ANSWER: This observation matters because it shows the reader how Tris is transitioning as a character. She is slowly losing her Abnegation personality, and is recognizing her Dauntless personality. In the back of her mind, Tris knows that she is Divergent, but does not yet know how to deal with that quality. Without knowing any information about being Divergent, she is confused on how to act or feel.

So What Step 3:

QUESTION: What do we make of the significance of this observation? 

ANSWER:  The significance that is made is that we know that Tris is starting to leave her past behind. It is a scary time for her, but it is something she knows she has to do. She wants to be brave because she knows that will help her survive in Dauntless. However, focusing on herself is something she has never known. Overall, we can conclude that Tris is aware of her new surroundings, and is trying her best to fit in.