In my archaeology classes, we talked a bit about lumpers and splitters, how people tend to split up species, tool styles, etc – lump them together, or split according some generally subtle difference. I myself tend to waver a bit, but lean towards lumping. This book, which probably has already been read and reviewed by many, premises that a community will split itself up based on differences in personality, detectable and defined by a mysterious drug induced scenario test. But what happens if people can’t be easily split into distinct categories. What if people are complicated?
Another in a seemingly long line of YA dystopian fiction series, Divergent has a female protagonist, Tris, who is Divergent. Divergence means she has diverse thinking patterns and emotional strengths, while most of her community have a predominant trait/value – selflessness, honesty, bravery, intelligence, peacefulness. Each person at around the age of 16 is tested to determine their predominant trait/value, and the following day choose which faction they will join. They don’t have to choose the faction they were raised in or that was identified in their test, but most do. Tris is dangerous because she has has three predominant traits/values, but her test results are hidden and she chooses her faction according to her heart, risking never seeing her family again. What follows is a training montage and romance set up, with some vicious Lord of the Flies style competition amongst her fellow new faction members. She inevitably ends up as a victim of a devious plot, and is rolled into a bigger rebellion.
This series has been inevitably likened to the Hunger Games, given the plot lines. What I find more interesting that that comparison is Roth’s discussion in the reading materials at the end about giving Tris agency – she makes decisions, she moves the plot, she effects change and takes control of her destiny. Much like Katniss, they are both in seemingly rigidly structured societies and forced into terrible situations with no good choices, but she certainly makes those choices independently. I like reading about these intelligent, powerful young women, taking the world around them seriously and being taken seriously by the people around them in turn. This book may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I am glad that these female characters are out there for young readers to experience.
While the supporting characters are not particularly well fleshed out, one of my biggest complaints is that romance between Tris and Four seems forced. They are just drawn to each other, it is irresistible, etc. This makes sense for some of the story because they are both teenagers, and hormones and adolescent brains will do that to you, but the declarations of love later in the book come too fast and seemingly without foundation. Collins did a better job of relationships, I think, in that Katniss had a long standing close relationship with Gale, and had to learn to love Peeta over time. Four and Tris do have a fair amount in common, which the reader gradually discovers, but much of their relationship develops in private with stolen moments. It just felt rushed.
I was torn about whether or not the give the book two or three stars. The romance part was a bit hard to invest in, there was a lot of “I sighed” in the book, and the characterization was a bit thin. However, the book’s plot was fast and the setting was interesting, enough so that I reserved the second and third book to be sure I could see how it ends.
I haven’t read the books, or watched the movie. It sounded so silly to me, but your review makes it more appealing.
No, it’s pretty silly. I rented the movie after reading the book, and it was not good. I don’t know, I probably should have given it only two stars, but some of the bones of it were really interesting to me.
I typed out a long reply and the interwebs ate it. Anyways, I have some half formed thoughts around female protagonists in YA fiction, but I am not all the way there yet.
I think a lot about what it means to have strong women characters in fiction regardless of the format. I think a lot of people mistake being able to kick ass physically as being a strong character. I think your description of Tris as being an independent actor and making her own choices is a better marker of a female character I want to see. Even if the story around her sucks.
The other thing is that at the beginning of the second book, they are with a group noted for their kindness and peacefulness. Tris notes that she isn’t very nice, and they agree with her. It reminds me, again, of the Hunger Games when Katniss says she is not nice and kind, and most people agree with her. It stands out for me, because when I was growing up there was so much focus on being nice, in all that word’s connotations for girls and women. I think women of my cohort were often raised with an emphasis on being “nice”, rather than risk offending people with assertiveness, for example. I like that Tris is not necessarily nice, but think that she is generally kind and selfless – those characteristics are distinct from being nice, for her at least.
It is similar to that article that floats around about how we shouldn’t criticize girls for being “bossy” when we wouldn’t say the same thing about boys behaving similarly.
My father once observed that I was a kind bitch. I think that perfectly encapsulates the mixed messages I’ve received to be a powerful woman and to be nice.
The movie wasn’t good,but the first book was pretty fun! Let me know how you feel about the other two…I have opinions, lots of opinions.
I just started the 2nd one last night, so will do!
I really loved this book the first time I read it — the fast plot and Tris’ characterization really grabbed me. I read it again after seeing the movie, though, and it didn’t hold up. A lot of the problems you discussed became much more obvious. The next two books are even sillier, with the last being almost a complete disaster.
I’ve heard that, particularly about the last book. I am going to read it anyways, but I wonder if Roth planned the series out as a trilogy and things just didn’t work out or did she just run out of story?
Lumpers and Splitters would be great names for the factions your distopian YA groups break themselves into when you finally get around to writing your YA novel or YA graphic novel.
It’s got potential!
I haven’t read it, but it sounds like a lot of the issues I had with the movie originated in the book. Boo. Aside from that, my main gripe with the book is purely personal: People ask me if I got my tattoo because I’m a fan of the books, but I had mine first, dammit. That said, Roth spoke at the National Book Fest in DC, and it was really heartening to see how many kids (especially girls) were packed under that tent on the National Mall on a damp day, many sitting right on the grass because there were no more chairs available, over a book.
I think that is encouraging, truly. Successful female author, young readers gripped by a powerful (though, as I get through the books, increasingly problematic) female lead.