Corruption amidst Separation
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Being Part of a Group Doesn't Define One's Personality
"I have a theory that selflessness and bravery aren't all that different." Tris, the main character states, in the book, Divergent. Divergent is centered around a city separated into five factions, each one valuing a different trait. Although one is only part of one faction, or factionless and living homeless, it does not define oneself as being only one thing. For example, as Tris states, Even though she may be part of Dauntless (brave) and not Abnegation (selfless) she is not just brave, she is selfless, and being selfless requires bravery, and vice versa. However shortly after she says: "I am not Dauntless. I am not Abnegation. I am Divergent." In the city, one takes a test to find which faction they are best suited for, and to be divergent, means that you are suited for more than one of the five factions. There are a few people like this, and Tris is one of them. But now she must choose a faction, and she would be good in a few of of them. Here is another example showing that you are an individual, and not just part of a group. You can be selfless, brave, truthful, smart, and kind. With each of these also being intertwined, you must make decisions not based on what your group or community wants you to do, but what you feel is right.
With factions so separate, one could never know what another is doing
Although people choose which faction to live in, and what trait they feel is their strength, they are not bound to that trait alone.
Tris finds out that being selfless is similar to braveness and one doesn't have to be bound to one faction.
Divergent is a book about identity and personality, without being bound by your surroundings
Veronica Roth
Veronica Roth was from the suburbs of Chicago, and still lives in the area. She attended Northwestern University and studied creative writing. Veronica is 22 years old. 2011 was quite an amazing year for the book Divergent which won won two Goodreads awards including: Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction, and Favorite book of 2011. The book was also Publisher Weekly's Best Book of 2011 and Amazon.com's Best Book of 2011.
Website: http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com
Location: 110 West 40th Street, New York, NY
Facebook: facebook.com/Veronica-Roth
Twitter: @VeronicaRoth