Divergent character - Tris Prior

I recently finished the book Divergent by Veronica Roth and I can truly say that it is one of the best books I have ever read. Because of all the action, suspense, and excitement, I could not put this book down. I can't wait for the 3rd and last book to come out this October.

I would like to talk about how Tris (Beatrice) Prior develops over the course of the story. Because she is the protagonist, main character, and narrator, she is the one advancing the plot. As I wrote in my last post, Tris is Divergent and she is in the Dauntless faction. Being Divergent means being able to be "immune" to simulations. Simulations are like dreams except you're injected with a serum that makes you dream. Tris creates drama by making enemies and being able to place first in one of the Dauntless initiation test. The antagonist in this story, Jeanine Matthews, is able to create a mind controlling serum to control the Dauntless and force them to fight for her. Because Tris is Dauntless, she is able to resist the mind controlling serum and help shut down the system controlling everyone.

Tris interacts with other people depending on her feelings for them. For example, Tris is enemies with, Peter and Eric in the Dauntless faction. She dislikes them because Peter is rude and is a jerk to everyone. Eric is a Dauntless leader and wants to change the Dauntless rules to become more competitive and violent, he also acts like a jerk towards everyone. Tris likes Christina, Al, and Will because of they're friendliness towards her and because they also dislike Peter and Eric. Tris is in love with Four, or also known as Tobias,  because of the way he treats her and his like for her back.

Throughout the story, Tris develops from being unsure about being in the Dauntless faction, to being sure that she belongs in that faction but Tris is Divergent, and has accepts being Divergent and not just belonging just to one faction. "I feel like someone breathed new air into my lungs. I am not Abnegation. I am not Dauntless. I am Divergent." (Roth 442) She also acts and thinks differently by the end of the novel: from being scared of the other Dauntless transfers she was competing with who were larger and more muscular to being confident in her abilities and actions. Her change helps her deal with tough simulations to deaths of her fellow friends and family.  By the end of the book, she is both physically and mentally stronger.

Overall, Tris has made visible change, making her a complex character.

"I am no longer Tris, the selfless, or Tris, the brave. I suppose that now, I must become more than either." (Roth 487)