Victoria Slagle-Blog Post 2

“You are correct to say that you are strong-willed. I cannot control your will. But there are a few things I can control.” (Roth, 431)

SUMMARY

In this quote, Erudite leader, Jeanine has discovered that Tris (Beatrice) and Tobias (Four) are Divergent. She is explaining to them how Divergents threaten their social system because of their inability to conform, or rather their ability to resist conformity. The erudite regime is based on the concept of control, and how it is because they cannot be controlled that Divergents are considered dangerous. At this moment in time Jeanine is reveals to Tris and Tobias that although it is true she cannot control their will, she can alter their perceptions of reality, through serums, to then turn their will and nature against them.

So What Step 1:

QUESTION

           

What does this observation imply?

ANSWER

In this quote, Erudite leader, Jeanine admits that she cannot control everything about a person, a person’s will to be specific; but she will do everything in her power to control everything else, making it easier to have “peace” in a society.

So What Step 2:

QUESTION

Why does this observation matter?

ANSWER

This quote is significant because when one can control someone, or a group of people, a distorted type of “peace” is created, that only exists because of control and nothing else. There is no loyalty or desire; there is no anger or retaliation; only a pseudo-society full of mindless, emotionless puppets that are incapable of causing anything positive or negative.

So What Step 3:

QUESTION

So where does this observation bring us?

ANSWER

This observation points to a critical characteristic of dystopian literature; and that is control. A key characteristic of Dystopias and dystopian literature is desire to keep the peace and the paranoia that something bad could happen; hence the constant hunger for complete control of society. If everyone thinks alike and acts alike and if free will is kept at bay; then there is no chance for uprisings and destruction and peace can be obtained: the main goal of a Dystopia.