Bleary-eyed, yawning Abnegation Tris was given a gun. Sounds smart, right? They started learning to shoot, and she was failing at first, but by the time she had more practice, she was getting pretty decent.
I lower the gun. There is power in controlling something that can do so much damage--in controlling something, period. Maybe I do belong here
After lunch, they start leaning to fight, which they will use the next day when they actually fight each other.
After initiation is done for the day, Christina give Tris basically a whole new look: knee-length black dress, wavy hair worn down, eyeliner. Tris likes it--it gives her a feeling of leaving Abnegation. They decide to go down and watch Al, another initiate, get a tattoo. Tori is down there, and Tris decides to get three small bird tattoos on her collarbone. It has the same basic sentiment as Tori's--a reminder of where she was, as well as a reminder of where she is now. Maybe there is a way to honor my old life as I embrace my new one.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Chapter 7: Reality Check
Dauntless will certainly test Tris's resolve-- after going through the schedule of initiation, Eric dropped kind of a big bomb on the initiates. Only the TOP TEN initiates make it into Dauntless. The other initiates must leave the compound and live factionless. There are 20 initiates this year: 11 Dauntless-born, 9 transfers.
If you're really one of us, it won't matter to you that you might fail. And if it does, you're a coward.
While the Erudite and Candor transfers bemoan this harsh reality, Tris resolves to make it into the top ten.
But instead of crying, like the Erudite girl, I feel colder. Harder. I will be a member. I will.
Already, as an Abnegation-born transfer, she's facing mocking and sneering and skepticism.
My odds, as the smallest initiate, as the only Abnegation transfer, are not good.
I think she wants to go back to her family, a little, but she knows she's unhappy there too.
My problem might be that even if I did go home, I wouldn't belong there, among people who give without thinking and care without trying.
If you're really one of us, it won't matter to you that you might fail. And if it does, you're a coward.
While the Erudite and Candor transfers bemoan this harsh reality, Tris resolves to make it into the top ten.
But instead of crying, like the Erudite girl, I feel colder. Harder. I will be a member. I will.
Already, as an Abnegation-born transfer, she's facing mocking and sneering and skepticism.
My odds, as the smallest initiate, as the only Abnegation transfer, are not good.
I think she wants to go back to her family, a little, but she knows she's unhappy there too.
My problem might be that even if I did go home, I wouldn't belong there, among people who give without thinking and care without trying.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Chapter 6: Welcome to Dauntless, Tris.
In the span of a chapter, Beatrice has ran down 20 flights of stairs, jumped onto a moving train, jumped off of a moving train, seen a girl die from falling of a ledge, jumped off that same ledge (first, voluntarily), and changed her name to Tris.
I think that when she dripped her blood into the Dauntless bowl, she hadn't thought at all about what would happen after she chose Dauntless. She didn't think about the risk, she didn't think about the things that she'd have to do, and the things she'd be faced with. In part, I think this is why she's good as a Dauntless-- a Dauntless does things without assessing risk, because they are courageous and reckless and get thrill from doing extreme things.
Once Beatrice gets down to the compound, she is asked for her name. She hesitates, and decides to introduce herself as Tris. In this, I think she is starting the process of leaving her old, Abnegation life being and starting as Tris, the Dauntless.
"Think about it," he says, a faint smile curling at his lips. "You don't get to pick again."
I think that when she dripped her blood into the Dauntless bowl, she hadn't thought at all about what would happen after she chose Dauntless. She didn't think about the risk, she didn't think about the things that she'd have to do, and the things she'd be faced with. In part, I think this is why she's good as a Dauntless-- a Dauntless does things without assessing risk, because they are courageous and reckless and get thrill from doing extreme things.
Once Beatrice gets down to the compound, she is asked for her name. She hesitates, and decides to introduce herself as Tris. In this, I think she is starting the process of leaving her old, Abnegation life being and starting as Tris, the Dauntless.
"Think about it," he says, a faint smile curling at his lips. "You don't get to pick again."
Chapter 5: The Choice
Caleb chooses. Beatrice chooses.
Oh. My. Gosh.
Caleb, the good child, chose Erudite. His advice was just as much to Beatrice as it was to himself.
And after Caleb chooses to be a faction transfer, betraying their parents and the whole of the Abnegation community, Beatrice resolves to stay Abnegation. But... if Caleb can't do it, how can she?
Her blood drips between the bowls, and then she chooses.
Dauntless.
"My blood drips onto the carpet between the two bowls. Then, with a gasp I can't contain, I shift my hand forward, and my blood sizzles on the coals. I am selfish. I am brave."
Oh. My. Gosh.
Caleb, the good child, chose Erudite. His advice was just as much to Beatrice as it was to himself.
And after Caleb chooses to be a faction transfer, betraying their parents and the whole of the Abnegation community, Beatrice resolves to stay Abnegation. But... if Caleb can't do it, how can she?
Her blood drips between the bowls, and then she chooses.
Dauntless.
"My blood drips onto the carpet between the two bowls. Then, with a gasp I can't contain, I shift my hand forward, and my blood sizzles on the coals. I am selfish. I am brave."
Chapter 4: She Must Choose
What?! Mind. Blown.
What I've picked up (I could be wrong) is that every student chooses their Faction, the results of the Aptitude Test are just strong suggestions.
Okay, anyways the choice is Beatrice's, and she must choose between Abnegation and Dauntless. This choice should be her own, but is obviously being influenced by her father's comments about an incident two years prior, where an Abnegation chose to leave for Dauntless.
My mother shakes her head. "That poor man. As if he needs to be reminded of his loss."
"Of his son's betrayal, you mean?" my father says coldly.
Beatrice, having been raised Abnegation, feels extremely guilty at even the thought of leaving her family for Dauntless, especially after that comment from her father. Based on what her views of her brother are, it seems apparent that he will chose Abnegation as his lifestyle, which also affects her choice.
But she sincerely wants to get out of Abnegation--
"I'm not sure if I can live this life of obligation any longer. I am not good enough."
And just when I think I have Caleb figured out, he says something that makes me question what he will choose.
"Beatrice," he says, looking sternly into my eyes. "We should think of our family." There is an edge to his voice.
Typical Caleb, the selfless, the good child.
"But.
What?! There's a But?!
"...But we must also think of ourselves."
I am so startled by his comment that I just say what I am supposed to say: "The tests don't have to change out choices."
He smiles a little. "Don't they, though?"
Her options: keep living a lifestyle of selflessness, which she's been doing for only sixteen years and is already tired of, or betraying her family to live a new life that she's not even sure she'll like.
"I realize the decision might be simple. It will require a great act of selflessness to choose Abnegation, or a great act of courage to choose Dauntless, and maybe just choosing one over the other will prove I belong. Tomorrow, those two qualities will struggle within me, and only one can win."
What I've picked up (I could be wrong) is that every student chooses their Faction, the results of the Aptitude Test are just strong suggestions.
Okay, anyways the choice is Beatrice's, and she must choose between Abnegation and Dauntless. This choice should be her own, but is obviously being influenced by her father's comments about an incident two years prior, where an Abnegation chose to leave for Dauntless.
My mother shakes her head. "That poor man. As if he needs to be reminded of his loss."
"Of his son's betrayal, you mean?" my father says coldly.
Beatrice, having been raised Abnegation, feels extremely guilty at even the thought of leaving her family for Dauntless, especially after that comment from her father. Based on what her views of her brother are, it seems apparent that he will chose Abnegation as his lifestyle, which also affects her choice.
But she sincerely wants to get out of Abnegation--
"I'm not sure if I can live this life of obligation any longer. I am not good enough."
And just when I think I have Caleb figured out, he says something that makes me question what he will choose.
"Beatrice," he says, looking sternly into my eyes. "We should think of our family." There is an edge to his voice.
Typical Caleb, the selfless, the good child.
"But.
What?! There's a But?!
"...But we must also think of ourselves."
I am so startled by his comment that I just say what I am supposed to say: "The tests don't have to change out choices."
He smiles a little. "Don't they, though?"
Her options: keep living a lifestyle of selflessness, which she's been doing for only sixteen years and is already tired of, or betraying her family to live a new life that she's not even sure she'll like.
"I realize the decision might be simple. It will require a great act of selflessness to choose Abnegation, or a great act of courage to choose Dauntless, and maybe just choosing one over the other will prove I belong. Tomorrow, those two qualities will struggle within me, and only one can win."
Chapter 3: Choose Your Destiny
"It's only when I try to live it myself that I have trouble. It never feels genuine. But choosing a different faction means I forsake my family. Permanently."
Had Beatrice's situation been different, had she been placed in a different faction, she would be relieved that she wasn't going to live the Abnegation lifestyle for the rest of her life. Only because she has the choice whether to leave or stay does she feel any kind of guilt.
"Isn't today a special day for you? The day before you choose?"
All of her instincts are anything but Abnegation, and she seems like a smart girl, with common sense. With common sense, a small desire (because of her upbringing) to help others, and bravery, she is exactly the kind of girl that any government or agency trying to keep the people oppressed in their way of life and traditions would have reason to fear.
"Choose wisely, little girl."
Had Beatrice's situation been different, had she been placed in a different faction, she would be relieved that she wasn't going to live the Abnegation lifestyle for the rest of her life. Only because she has the choice whether to leave or stay does she feel any kind of guilt.
"Isn't today a special day for you? The day before you choose?"
All of her instincts are anything but Abnegation, and she seems like a smart girl, with common sense. With common sense, a small desire (because of her upbringing) to help others, and bravery, she is exactly the kind of girl that any government or agency trying to keep the people oppressed in their way of life and traditions would have reason to fear.
"Choose wisely, little girl."
Chapter 2: The Aptitude Test
Aptitude Test Day!
Once Beatrice got into the Aptitude Test, I could see why she was afraid of what might happen. They took her into an intimidating room that she's never been in before (used specifically for the Aptitude Test) with mirrors covering the walls (which she is not used to) and have her sit in a reclined chair (in a vulnerable position) and ask her to drink an unfamiliar vial of clear liquid (umm... suspicious much?).
"Drink this." she says.
"What is it?" My throat feels swollen. I swallow hard.
"What's going to happen?
"Can't tell you that. Just trust me."
I press air from my lungs and tip the contents of the vial into my mouth. My eyes close.
Once the test started, Beatrice got put in all these scenarios meant, I'm assuming, to test her responses to different situations, and to see what faction most lined up with her responses--to test her nature in the most real way possible, to see if it's in her nature to live a certain way.
She had responses that definitely did not line up with her Abnegation upbringing, exhibiting bravery, submission, and cunningness.
"If you know him," he says in a low voice, "you could save me. You could save me!"
I narrow my eyes. "Well," I say. I set my jaw. "I don't."
Once Beatrice got into the Aptitude Test, I could see why she was afraid of what might happen. They took her into an intimidating room that she's never been in before (used specifically for the Aptitude Test) with mirrors covering the walls (which she is not used to) and have her sit in a reclined chair (in a vulnerable position) and ask her to drink an unfamiliar vial of clear liquid (umm... suspicious much?).
"Drink this." she says.
"What is it?" My throat feels swollen. I swallow hard.
"What's going to happen?
"Can't tell you that. Just trust me."
I press air from my lungs and tip the contents of the vial into my mouth. My eyes close.
Once the test started, Beatrice got put in all these scenarios meant, I'm assuming, to test her responses to different situations, and to see what faction most lined up with her responses--to test her nature in the most real way possible, to see if it's in her nature to live a certain way.
She had responses that definitely did not line up with her Abnegation upbringing, exhibiting bravery, submission, and cunningness.
"If you know him," he says in a low voice, "you could save me. You could save me!"
I narrow my eyes. "Well," I say. I set my jaw. "I don't."
Chapter 1: Beatrice
Beatrice Prior has grown up as an Abnegation, which is the selfless faction. Beatrice doesn't feel like she belongs in the Abnegation.
She is well-practiced in the art of losing herself. I can't say the same of myself.
They remind me somewhat of an Amish people-- downplayed clothing and hairstyles, and not very material people. Beatrice goes to school with kids of all different factions, but as a 16yr old, she and her brother, Caleb, are taking the Aptitude test to determine which faction they actually belong in.
My guess is that their parents took the test as teenagers, got put in Abnegation, got paired up to be married (because apparently there is very little concept of personal choice), and now are spending their lives as Abnegation.
I find it interesting how each faction has a different type of clothing that they are required/expected to wear. It makes logical sense based on what their faction's values are, as well as keeping the faction members submissive to the system of the factions.
So far, the book reminds me of The Giver and Matched, in that their futures are decided by some higher government system.
She is well-practiced in the art of losing herself. I can't say the same of myself.
They remind me somewhat of an Amish people-- downplayed clothing and hairstyles, and not very material people. Beatrice goes to school with kids of all different factions, but as a 16yr old, she and her brother, Caleb, are taking the Aptitude test to determine which faction they actually belong in.
My guess is that their parents took the test as teenagers, got put in Abnegation, got paired up to be married (because apparently there is very little concept of personal choice), and now are spending their lives as Abnegation.
I find it interesting how each faction has a different type of clothing that they are required/expected to wear. It makes logical sense based on what their faction's values are, as well as keeping the faction members submissive to the system of the factions.
So far, the book reminds me of The Giver and Matched, in that their futures are decided by some higher government system.
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