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Samantha Wackwitz
College Comp I pd. 2
Mrs. Cramer
November 1, 2016
The Secret Behind Revealing Details
Divergent is based in a world where Chicago is split into five factions designed to keep
the peace. Amity is all about friendship and harmony, Candor believes in being completely
honest, Abnegation are selfless and kind, Erudite is for those who are smart and always wanting
to learn something new, and Dauntless is the place where people who are brave fit in. The
citizens of Chicago are expected to fit into one of the five factions, so, when one of them doesn't,
it causes an uproar. The Divergents, people who do not fit into just one, but more than one
faction, get hunted. Due to the threat to the main characters, one of whom is divergent and the
other the boyfriend of the divergent, they are closed off and keep to themselves, not revealing
many details about their characters. However, the author, Veronica Roth, uses symbolism and the
way characters act to portray the characters' traits and details in Divergent.
Some of the symbols Roth uses to reveal details about the characters include names,
images, and tattoos. For example, the main character, Tris, decides to get three Ravens, one raven
for each member of her family, tattooed across her collarbone flying in the direction of her heart
(page 90), which informs the reader that Tris is missing her family even though she doesn't say it
outright. Another example of a tattoo being a symbol is in chapter 31 on pages 404 and 405: "On
his back is more ink than skin. The symbols of each faction are drawn there- Dauntless at the top
of his spine, Abnegation just below it, and the other three, smaller, beneath them. For a few
seconds I look at the scales that represent Candor, the Eye that stands for Erudite, and the tree

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that symbolizes Amity. It would make sense that he would tattoo himself with the symbol of
Dauntless, his refuge, and even the symbol of Abnegation, his place of origin, like I did. But the
other three? 'I think we've made a mistake,' he says softly. 'We've all started to put down the
virtues of the other factions in the process of bolstering our own. I dont want to do that. I want
to be brave, and selfless, and smart, and kind, and honest.'" This quote is important because the
tattoo and the reason for getting it reveals that Four does not want to be ordinary and fit into one
faction, but be able to adapt and fit into all five factions.
Roth also uses images as symbols to show what the factions are about. Amity has a tree
symbol because it is about harmony and friendship, Candor has scales because its about honesty
and the people in Candor run the court system, Abnegation has hands folded together as a sign of
giving a helping hand, Erudite has an eye because it is about people who see all and know all,
and Dauntless has a symbol for fire to show bravery (page 42 and 43). Each symbol for the five
factions gives away a little of what the faction being represented is about. Other ways Roth uses
symbolism to reveal details and traits about the characters is when the book explains the reason
Four, the male main character, choose Four to be his name, "'Thats it?' I say. 'Those are your
four worst fears? Why do you only have four...' My voice trails off. Only four fears. 'Oh.' I look
over my shoulder at him. 'Thats why they call you-'." (page 330 and 331) Roth uses Four's name
to reveal the detail that he has only four fears, and that his number of fears was the reason he
chose his name to be what it is.
There are many types of symbols that can reveal details about a person. However, you
can also use a person's actions to reveal details about him or her. In chapter twelve Tris is faced
with a challenge to find and capture the other team's flag in order to win a game. While her

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teammates argue about the best way to find the other team's flag and capture it, Tris thinks
outside the box and climbs on a ferris wheel to get a better view in order to see where the flag is,
an action that shows the character is smart. The author reveals another trait about Tris on pages
161-163: "Anger bubbles in my chest, and bursts from my mouth: 'Stop it.' Four turns the knife
in his hand, his fingers moving painstakingly over the metal edge. He gives me such a hard look
that I feel like he's turning me to stone. I know why. I am stupid for speaking up while Eric is
here; I am stupid for speaking up at all. 'Any idiot can stand in front of a target,' I say. 'It doesnt
prove anything except that you're bullying us. Which, as I recall, is a sign of cowardice.' 'Then it
should be easy for you,' Eric says. 'If you're willing to take his place.' The last thing I want to do
is stand in front of that target, but I can't back down now. I didn't leave myself the option. I
weave through the crowd of initiates, and someone shoves my shoulder." (pages 161-163) This
quote reveals that Tris is brave and doesn't give into fear. Roth also uses this quote to show that
Tris is selfless.
All throughout Divergent Roth uses symbolism and the way the characters act to portray
the characters' traits and details. Without much information being revealed at all, except from
symbols and actions, we learned the reason for Four's tattoo, as well as Tris's tattoo, why Four's
name is what it is, and that Tris is smart and brave in her own unique ways. There were many
other examples that could have been used, however, these were the most important.