In the following, I will show and analyze the system of the factions in The Divergent by Verona Roth and its abuse ruled by the government as well as the system of the factions. I will consider how the factions interact. The relationships between and within the factions are important aspects, too. My term paper should prove that the social construct of society is abused by the government.
Veronica Roth has written a trilogy of this dystopian novel. They are called firstly The Divergent (2011), secondly The Insurgent (2012) and thirdly The Allegiant (2013).
My primary source for this paper will be the first edition The Divergent so that I can get more into depth while analyzing. Involving all books would exceed the frame of the paper.
Moreover, I will use public journals, newspaper, and secondary literature to underline the relevance of the topic for society in recent years. I will also use the novel The Hunger Games (2012) written by Suzanne Collins in some cases to find similarities and differences in dystopian, young adult fiction literature.
The government abuses its power to control the majority of the population in the fictional future city Chicago. Protagonist in the novel is Beatrice Prior who will take the main space for my citations and arguments in this paper. Her thoughts and actions represent the power and discipline that young adults can show, in this case in literature.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Governmental power in The Divergent
3. System of the factions
4. Tris’ power
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper examines how the dystopian government in Veronica Roth's The Divergent utilizes social constructs—specifically the faction system—to exercise control and maintain power over its population. Through the analysis of the protagonist's journey, the study explores how institutionalized societal divisions are used to suppress individuality and enforce state conformity.
- Analysis of governmental control mechanisms and strategies in a dystopian society.
- Examination of the faction system as an instrument of social regulation and discipline.
- Evaluation of the protagonist's identity formation and her resistance against systemic oppression.
- Comparison of dystopian literary constructs with real-world political and social dynamics.
Excerpt from the Book
3. System of the factions
Each of the five factions must follow distinct rules for the behavior and life of the people in those factions. The society is based on this construct of dividing people into specific groups. The factions are Abnegation (selflessness), Amity (understanding), Candor (honesty), Dauntless (bravery) and Erudite (intelligence). Each faction represents a different sector and task within society, as mentioned in the Choosing Ceremony in the fifth Chapter of the book:
’’Working together, these five factions have lived in peace for many years, each contributing to a different sector of society. Abnegation has fulfilled our need for selfless leaders in government. (…) In our factions, we find meaning, we find purpose, we find life.” (Chapter 5)
In that regard, we can see that the factions are a strong structure to hold society together, prevent conflicts and establish a state where all citizens live together peacefully. On the one hand, they determine the lives for each of the citizens. For many people this is an advantage because they have a special purpose in life. They do not have to decide on their own which job they want to do or how they behave in community. It is a pre-determined life. From the day onwards they are born they must live in their community ruled by mechanisms such as surveillance, discipline, and control. The government prescribes the behavior for all members of the factions. For example, members from Abnegation have to be selfless, cautious and caring all the time. Whereas members from the Dauntless faction have a wild, brave, and savage attitude.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the philosophical background regarding society and introduces the research aim to analyze the abuse of social constructs by the government in The Divergent.
2. Governmental power in The Divergent: This chapter analyzes how the government uses strategies like the faction system, physical barriers, and psychological manipulation to control the populace and prevent independent thought.
3. System of the factions: This chapter explores how the faction system forces citizens into predetermined roles, using fear of being "factionless" to maintain order and social structure.
4. Tris’ power: This section details the protagonist's development, her struggle with the limitations of her society, and how her "divergence" makes her a threat to the established order.
5. Conclusion: The conclusion reflects on the dystopian nature of the novel, comparing its social structures to real-world political concepts and emphasizing the importance of individual agency against systemic abuse.
Keywords
The Divergent, Veronica Roth, dystopia, social constructs, government, control, faction system, individuality, Beatrice Prior, power, political, society, resistance, adolescence, literature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines the abuse of social constructs, specifically the faction system, as a tool for governmental control in the dystopian novel The Divergent.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The central themes include systemic governmental control, the loss of individual autonomy within social structures, the role of fear in maintaining order, and the transition from childhood to adulthood within a restricted society.
What is the research goal of this work?
The goal is to prove that the government in the novel abuses the concept of society and the faction system to suppress its population and maintain absolute control.
Which scientific approach is utilized?
The paper employs a literary analysis method, using the primary text alongside secondary sources, journals, and comparisons to other dystopian literature like The Hunger Games.
What does the main body focus on?
The main body focuses on the mechanics of the faction system, the strategies of government control, and the character arc of the protagonist, Beatrice (Tris) Prior.
Which keywords characterize this study?
Key terms include dystopia, faction system, social construct, governmental power, Beatrice Prior, and individual resistance.
How does the author interpret the concept of "being factionless"?
The author argues that being factionless is the greatest fear in this society because it represents total exclusion from the community, effectively stripping an individual of their identity, support, and basic livelihood.
How does the protagonist’s divergence function as a counter-narrative to the government?
Her divergence represents a refusal to conform to a single, restricted identity. By possessing traits from multiple factions, she challenges the system’s logic that an individual's potential should be confined to one specific, controlled set of behaviors.
- Citar trabajo
- Sarah Bukowski (Autor), 2019, Abuse of social constructs with the help of factions in Veronica Roth’s "The Divergent", Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1176138
