Divergent Summary

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Here you will find a Divergent summary (Veronica Roth's book).
We begin with a summary of the entire book, and then you can read each individual chapter's summary by visiting the links on the "Chapters" section.

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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024

Divergent Summary Overview

In a dystopian future version of Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each valuing distinct virtues. Sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior, originally from Abnegation, the faction honoring selflessness, faces a critical crossroads. She must undertake an aptitude test that will help determine her future faction, a life-altering decision she must announce at the forthcoming Choosing Ceremony. Tormented by a desire to join Dauntless, the faction symbolizing courage, Beatrice tackles the aptitude test, which unexpectedly reveals her suitability for multiple factions, making her a Divergent. Beatrice, cautioned to keep this a secret, wrestles with her emotions. At the Choosing Ceremony, she selects Dauntless, leaving her family shell-shocked. Renaming herself Tris, she commences her new life, making new friends, and facing severe challenges, including training and harassment from Peter, a fellow initiate. The initiation process includes a series of physical and mental tests, and Tris bravely navigates these despite her fears and the constant bullying. A turning point occurs during a game of capture the flag, where Tris begins developing feelings for Four, a Dauntless trainer. This new affection, however, doesn’t alleviate the pressure, as Tris has to face further dangers, including being assaulted by fellow initiates and grappling with the truth of her divergence. Despite the adversity, Tris courageously continues to rise in rank, though this draws the ire of some of her peers, leading to further threats and attacks. In the final stage of the initiation, the participants confront their worst fears through simulations. Tris’s ability to manipulate the simulations reveals her Divergent status to Four, whose real name is Tobias. Their bond deepens as Tobias shares his fears with Tris, including a fear of his father, Marcus, who is a colleague of Tris's father. In the midst of this, Tris uncovers a sinister plot by the Erudite faction, which plans to wage war against Abnegation using controlled Dauntless members. Caught in a violent conflict, Tris loses her mother and is forced to kill her friend Will to escape. She manages to stop the brainwashed Dauntless with Tobias’s help and escapes with a handful of survivors, including her brother Caleb and Marcus, towards the Amity faction’s headquarters, uncertain of what lies ahead.

chapter 1

A young girl is getting her hair cut by her mother, nervous about the upcoming aptitude test which will determine her place in one of society's five factions. She is currently in Abnegation and is unsure if she wants to remain there due to their selfless lifestyle, which she sees as a burden. Her brother Caleb, also sixteen, accompanies her on the bus to school and shows his faction values by relinquishing his seat to another passenger. When questioned about his feelings towards the test, he mirrors the question back to her, to which she hides her true feelings of unease. After being knocked down by a boy from the rival faction, Erudite, she watches the Dauntless faction, known for their bold tattoos and piercings, jump from a moving train. Despite her fascination, she scolds herself and heads to class.

chapter 2

After school, the protagonist waits for her aptitude test in the cafeteria, observing other students at the faction tables. She muses on her brother Caleb's natural selflessness, a trait she struggles with. When Caleb returns from his test, he is visibly shaken but refrains from speaking about it. The protagonist is then called for her test, revealing her name as Beatrice Prior. Her examiner is a Dauntless woman named Tori, recognizable by her hawk tattoo. When Beatrice impulsively questions Tori about her tattoo, Tori explains that it symbolizes overcoming her fear of the dark. Hooked up to a machine and given a drink, Beatrice begins her test. Beatrice wakes up in a deserted cafeteria. A voice prompts her to choose between two baskets, one holding cheese and the other a knife. Instead, she chooses neither and is confronted by an aggressive dog. She manages to pacify the dog by submitting to it. However, when a young girl enters the room and the dog turns aggressive again, Beatrice bravely tackles the dog, leading her back to the mirrored room. Soon, she finds herself on a bus with a scarred man holding a newspaper. The man quizzes her about a murderer on the front page of his paper. Although he seems vaguely familiar, Beatrice senses danger and denies knowing him. When accused of lying and claimed that her confession could save him, she steadfastly denies.

chapter 3

Waking up, Beatrice sees a worried Tori. Tori steps out briefly, causing Beatrice to fear she might end up factionless and poor. However, Tori clarifies that the test was inconclusive. Instead of discarding four factions, only two were disregarded: Beatrice exhibits attributes of Abnegation, Erudite, and Dauntless, making her "Divergent." Tori alerts Beatrice to the perils of her label and instructs her to keep her results a secret. She sends Beatrice away to contemplate the forthcoming choosing ceremony. Beatrice intends to meet Caleb without their parents knowing about her early arrival. While crossing the dilapidated factionless area, a disheveled man asks her for food. She hands him a bag of apple slices, and he inquires about the choosing ceremony while holding her wrist. Preparing to strike him, he releases her telling her to make a wise choice.

chapter 4

Beatrice gets home ahead of time, waiting for her brother Caleb and their friends, Robert and Susan. She reflects on the uniformity of their Abnegation houses, designed to discourage feelings of superiority. Once Caleb arrives, she claims feeling unwell due to the test, even though he doesn't buy her story. They prepare supper together after their friends depart, but Beatrice feels annoyed at Caleb's inherent selflessness. When their parents return, their mother brings up a glitch in an aptitude test while their father, a politician, expresses anger over Erudite's allegations against his associate, Marcus. Marcus is accused of maltreatment by Jeanine, the Erudite delegate, stating that Marcus' son, Tobias, switched to Dauntless due to his cruel ways. Beatrice's father dismisses the report, seeing Tobias' move as disloyalty and the Erudite as power-hungry. Before retiring, Caleb tells Beatrice that their personal interests should guide their faction choice, not family ties. Beatrice spots a pile of books on his desk and longs to seek his advice on her decision.

chapter 5

Beatrice's family reaches the Hub for the decision-making event. They choose the stairs over the elevator, climbing twenty levels to reach the gathering. Teenagers form a circle with a ring of seats for relatives in the middle. Five bowls, resonating each faction through different elements; stones for Abnegation, water for Erudite, soil for Amity, coals for Dauntless, and glass for Candor, are placed at the center. Beatrice believes her father wants his children to remain Abnegation. She is taken aback when her mother assures her of her unconditional love, despite her faction choice. Marcus then discusses the “democratic philosophy” of the factions, designed to eliminate negative human traits and foster a peaceful society. As per the tradition, each person's name is called in reverse order, they cut their hand and let a few drops of blood fall into their chosen faction's bowl. Everyone in Abnegation, including Beatrice,is astounded when Caleb opts for Erudite, given the current hostility between the two factions. Torn between loyalty and inclination, Beatrice almost remains with her family's faction. However, after some painful contemplation, she aligns with Dauntless.

chapter 6

Beatrice departs the Hub with her new Dauntless group. She steals a glance at her parents - her father looks unhappy, while her mother grins. She and her fellow recruits noisily descend the stairs, a stark contrast to her previous quiet Abnegation life. She experiences a thrill as she leaps onto a moving train for the first time. Christina, a fellow novice from Candor, assists her. Watching a boy who failed to board the train fade into the distance, she feels a sense of exhilaration. Upon reaching Dauntless headquarters, they are tasked to jump onto the roof from the moving train. Beatrice, Christina and a few others manage to do so successfully, but one girl tragically plummets to her death. They are instructed by a Dauntless leader, Max, to jump into the compound entrance, a seven-story hole. Frustrated by Peter, a Candor boy's teasing, Beatrice electrifies everyone by jumping first. She takes off her shirt in defiance, leaving her skin exposed for the first time, before throwing it at Peter and leaping into the abyss. She lands heavily but safely in a net, where a young man with piercing blue eyes and another Dauntless girl, Lauren, help her onto a platform. They're struck by the bravery of an Abnegation girl being the first to jump. Feeling her old name no longer suits her new life, she introduces herself as Tris. The young man tells her his name is Four and welcomes her to Dauntless.

chapter 7

Four and Lauren split up the new recruits into two distinct groups. Dauntless-born initiates go with Lauren, while Four stays with the nine transfers. He introduces himself as their trainer, curtly silencing Christina when she ridicules his name. He guides them into the Pit, an enormous underground cave, teeming with people and crisscrossed with pathways linking living and storage areas. They're next introduced to the chasm, a deep canyon with a perilous river snaking through one side of the Pit. Upon entering the dining hall, the Dauntless members cheer for them. In the hall, Tris, Christina, and Four share a table, with the latter two finding amusement in Tris's unfamiliarity with hamburgers. Eric, an Erudite convert bloated with arrogance and covered in piercings, joins them and begins to probe Four with unsettling questions, leaving Tris to ponder their dynamic. Eric jolts the transfers after the meal by announcing the competitive nature of their training; only the top ten will become Dauntless, the remaining will end up factionless. This revelation terrifies the initiates, but Tris is determined to succeed. That night, she battles homesickness silently, not wanting to draw attention to her tears. Al, her bunkmate and a large boy, disturbs her with his conspicuous weeping.

chapter 8

Training day commences with the recruits being informed about the three-stage process, designed to test their physical, mental, and emotional durability. Four, their instructor, teaches them gun handling and combat skills. Tris initially struggles with shooting but soon improves, appreciating the control she attains. At lunch, she, along with Christina, is joined by an Erudite boy, Will, who admits to not fitting in his faction. Tris finds herself uneasy witnessing a romantic exchange between Edward and Myra, resulting in playful teasing about her conservativeness. Post-lunch, training continues with punching bag exercises and Four's personal guidance makes Tris anxious. At dinner, Al expresses his desire for a tattoo, and Christina and Tris decide to accompany him. Prior to going, Christina gives Tris a makeover, transforming her appearance. At the tattoo shop, Tris is taken aback to see Tori, her test conductor. She attempts to discuss her test outcomes, but Tori declines. Tris settles on a tattoo of three birds on her collarbone, symbolizing her family.

chapter 9

Tris and Christina converse about fellow initiates as they gear up for paired fighting. Christina, now Tris's closest friend, expresses her disdain for Peter, Drew, and Molly, dubbing Peter as "pure evil". These three are Candor initiates Christina has known since they were kids. Four gives Al and Will the option to quit their fight, while Eric insists on a fight to the finish. Al, distressed by his force, eventually knocks out Will. Molly then brutally beats Christina to the point of tears and surrender. Eric, irate at Christina's surrender, takes everyone to the Pit. He forces Christina to dangle over the chasm for five minutes to demonstrate her bravery. As she starts to lose grip, Tris and Al cheer her on. After five minutes, they rescue her.

chapter 10

Tris discovers the derogatory term “Stiff” scrawled across her bed after her shower, and suspects Peter is responsible. Al assists her in tidying the mess, and voices his reluctance to hurt others on their way to training. Tris learns she'll be up against Peter in a fight. Despite Al's suggestion of surrendering, Tris resolves to fight to improve her standing. She is however defeated by Peter and goes unconscious, noticing Four exiting the room before she passes out. She regains consciousness in the infirmary, bruised and lightheaded, with Will, Al, and Christina by her side. Will and Christina depart for dinner after lightening the mood with some jokes. Al informs her about a field trip to the fence the next morning and they chat about the fights and their respective courage. She senses Al’s growing affection towards her but finds him overly soft. Once Al departs, she readies herself for the chance her parents may be too upset to come to Visiting Day. After midnight, she leaves the infirmary to return to the dormitory.

chapter 11

Christina rouses a groggy Tris due to her injuries. They barely catch the train to the excursion, with Al assisting Tris to board, causing her embarrassment as Peter watches. Tris spots Four at the train door, realizing she's been observing him a lot. They reach a barbed-wire fence guarded by armed personnel where they disembark. Four shares that Dauntless initiates with lower rankings usually end up as fence guards, triggering Tris’s fear of failing initiation or becoming a mere guard. Despite being top of his own group, Four reveals he turned down a government job, making Tris puzzled by his decision to train initiates. A truck filled with apples shows up at the gate, carrying Tris's friend and Amity transfer, Robert. After noticing her wounds, he suggests Tris could return to Abnegation, but she dismisses the idea. She realizes the gate locks from inside, implying they're trapped. Seeing her interaction with Robert, Four reprimands Tris for her imprudent choices, hinting at leaving her combat early due to his discomfort with her getting injured.

chapter 12

Late at night, the initiates are jolted awake and instructed to assemble at the rail tracks. Eric and Four split them into two groups for a round of capture the flag, which is an integral part of Dauntless customs. Four selects swift, agile initiates like Tris, Christina, and Will, whereas Eric opts for the larger ones, Al included. Four's team advances towards Navy Pier, encountering an idle Ferris wheel, uninhabited structures, and a deserted carousel. As the team bickers over strategy, Tris boldly ascends the Ferris wheel to spot the rival team. Four joins her, and during their climb, Tris discerns his acrophobia. Nonetheless, she admires his determination to conquer his fear and finds herself growing more attracted to him. From their elevated position, they spot the opposition. A near-accident occurs when a bar Tris is gripping breaks, but Four cleverly activates the Ferris wheel to lower her gently. Upon rejoining their team, Tris takes the lead in devising the assault strategy, dividing them into two factions to mislead and surprise Eric's team. Tris and Christina reach the flag before the others. Christina suggests that Tris has already proven herself as a hero and should allow her to grab the flag. Despite reservations, Tris consents. The team shows admiration for Tris' selflessness and they all revel in a light-hearted paintball fight on their journey back.

chapter 13

Eric, still upset from the capture the flag game's loss, declares the initial phase of training nearly complete. He instructs everyone to grab a blade from a central table. Four teaches them knife-throwing techniques, and Tris quickly masters the skill before she even throws her first knife. Despite Peter's jeers, she manages to become the first one to strike the target. Al, however, struggles and fails to make any successful throws. Eric scolds him and orders him to pick up his missed knife amidst ongoing throws. As Al resists, Eric commands him to be the target for Four's knife-throwing. Four protests, but Eric asserts his authority as the leader. Irked by Eric's harshness, Tris labels him a bully and steps up to replace Al as the target. Four throws thrice at her, grazing her ear with the final throw. Eric admires her courage, but Tris rejects his commendation, worried that her Divergence might be exposed. Once the room clears, she confronts Four, accusing him of intentionally hurting her. His response, suggesting she should thank him, leaves her baffled and upset.

chapter 14

On the last day of the first stage of her training, and the eve of Visiting Day, Tris finds that her pants no longer accommodate her growing muscles. Leaving the bathroom in just a towel, she encounters Peter, Molly, and Drew who belittle her physique and snatch her towel, leaving her exposed. Overcome with shame, she flees back to the bathroom. Tris is driven by a newfound desire to retaliate, particularly against Peter. Donning combat-appropriate attire, Tris proceeds to the training room, hoping to be pitted against Peter to exact her revenge. However, she is instead matched with Molly. She observes Al's swift surrender to Christina, a pattern he's maintained since his initial battle. When it’s her turn to fight Molly, who continues to ridicule her, Tris retaliates fiercely, flooring Molly and assaulting her until Four intervenes.

chapter 15

During Family Day, Eric warns the novices not to get too cozy with their relatives, emphasizing the Dauntless principle, "Faction before blood". He commends Tris for defeating Molly, making her rethink her aggressive behaviors. At the Pit, Tris is comforted to find her mom, who she didn't think would show up. Her mom expresses regret about her dad's no-show, describing him as being self-centered recently. She also informs Tris about the Erudite's ban preventing Abnegation members from visiting their territory, explaining why she can't see Caleb. Soon, Tris's mom notices Four and introduces herself. Four assures her that Tris is faring well, and she notes a sense of familiarity about him. They encounter Al's mom, who is desperately looking for him, and Will's sister, who accuses Abnegation of food monopoly. Tris's mom ushers her to a quiet corner and inquires about her training progress and test scores. She advises her to stay mid-ranked and asks her to persuade Caleb to delve into the test simulation serum. Upon her departure, Tris realizes her mom likely has a Dauntless background.

chapter 16

Tris finds Al in the dormitory avoiding his family due to his poor performance. He admits he joined Dauntless for the wrong reasons and tries to show affection to Tris, who pulls away. During dinner, the conversation revolves around the upcoming rankings and aptitude tests. Tris reveals she didn't kill the dog in her simulation, leading to an Abnegation result. Four later discloses their ranks: Tris is surprisingly sixth, Peter second, Al eighth and Molly fifth. Molly threatens revenge for her loss to Tris. That night, a scream wakes Tris to find Edward with a knife in his eye. Peter and Drew are nowhere to be found, leading to the conclusion that Peter was responsible. Despite the incident, they decide against reporting it. The next day is free, and Tris and Will engage in a discussion about faction principles. Upon their return, they learn that Edward and Myra have dropped out of the initiation, sparing Al from elimination.

chapter 17

Tris spends her day away from the dorm, disturbed by the lingering scent of blood, even after her cleaning efforts. She runs into Uriah and other Dauntless-born initiates, one of whom invites her to join a daring initiation ritual. Despite the absence of Four, she boards a train with them, her curiosity piqued by the promise of danger. Tris learns that Four had previously trained Shauna, another girl initiate, during their own training days, which stirs up feelings of envy. The group disembarks from the train and heads towards the Hancock building via Michigan Avenue. The initiation challenge takes them to the 100th floor and onto the roof, where they must zip line down a cable while strapped to a body harness. Tris thoroughly enjoys the thrilling experience, earning enough respect from Shauna, a Dauntless-born initiate, to no longer be referred to as "Stiff". However, when she tries to downplay the adventure to Christina and her other friends, she senses a tinge of bitterness from them.

chapter 18

The initiates await the commencement of their second phase of training in a darkened corridor. Uriah notes the impossibility of preparing for what's coming. Four briefs Tris about the imminent simulation, designed to help her gain control over her fears, facilitated by a hallucination-inducing serum. The hallucination and her reactions will be tracked by a computer. Upon receiving the injection from Four, Tris finds herself in a field, under attack by a huge swarm of crows. Her attempts to fend off the birds prove fruitless. Recalling that she can only escape the hallucination by calming herself, she forces herself down and attempts to relax. Overwhelmed by pain, she wakes up crying. Not wanting to show her weakness to others, Four escorts her out of the room. Despite feeling like she's failed, Four reassures her that she managed to exit the hallucination quicker than anyone else. Tris confesses her surprise at the severity of the initiation. Four discloses that Dauntless training regimes became more ruthless six years prior. Following this shift, Four turned down a leadership offer, leading to Eric's ascent to power.

chapter 19

Tris walks into the dorm to find her peers huddled around Peter who's reading an Erudite newspaper article aloud. The article criticizes the values of the Abnegation faction and alleges Tris and Caleb's father of vile acts. It's based on a claim made by Molly that Tris talks in her sleep and has confessed about her father's misdeeds. An enraged Tris advances towards Peter and Molly, but Will intervenes and pulls her out. He tries to convince her that she doesn't belong to Abnegation anymore, and disputes her belief that Erudite is trying to upset the government. Soon after, Christina and Al show up and propose a visit to the tattoo parlor. Both Tris and Christina decide to get tattoos of the Dauntless emblem and Tris purchases a top that is more revealing than her usual attire. At the chasm, a tipsy Four attempts to flirt with Tris. Their encounter is brief, and Al scoops up Tris and carries her to dinner.

chapter 20

Tris, troubled by fear simulations that cause nightmares and anxiety, reluctantly faces the next examination. In a scenario where she's confined in a box filling with water, she struggles to escape while being observed by Four and fellow initiates. initially, her attempts to break free fail, but she manages to gain control of her panic, reminding herself that it's all imaginary. This mental shift allows her to shatter the box. Four, witnessing this, seems confused and informs her privately in the corridor that her ability to control the simulation is a sign of her being Divergent. He decides to erase these results but cautions Tris to hide her abilities in future tests. Tris then approaches Tori for more information. Tori confirms that such control over simulations is common among Divergents and shares a personal story about her brother, who also had similar abilities. However, his abilities were discovered by Divergent leaders, who killed him, staging it as suicide. Tori admits she's unsure why Dauntless are concerned about the Divergents' abilities but advises Tris to proceed with caution.

chapter 21

Erudite continues its assault on Abnegation, publishing two more accusatory articles. Tris is burdened by these issues and her own struggles with the harsh simulations. She chose Dauntless to reveal a hidden part of herself but the experience is proving more intense than she anticipated, causing sleep issues and raising concerns about the mental health of her fellow initiates. Back at their living quarters, Eric announces Tris as the highest-ranked initiate, causing outrage among her peers. Peter threatens Tris while her friends from Abnegation, particularly a tearful Al, display resentment due to their lower rankings. Distressed, Tris turns to her Dauntless-born peers for comfort. Late at night, she overhears Eric conversing with an unknown woman about hunting for "Divergent rebels", amplifying her anxiety. Out of the blue, Tris is attacked by three people, including Peter and Al. They abduct her, blindfold her, and take her to the chasm where they grope her and threaten to throw her off. In the nick of time, Four intervenes and saves her, and Tris faints in his arms.

chapter 22

Four's room is where Tris finds herself waking up, feeling sore and aching. Her inquiries about her assailants' fate reveal that Four injured Drew to the point of hospitalization, while Al and Peter escaped. Despite Four's suggestion to report the incident, Tris declines, keen on hiding her fear. Four's care for her is gentle, and he advises her to appear vulnerable to avoid further attacks. On learning that she was molested by the boys during the attack, he is infuriated and tells her to defend herself now and plan revenge against them later. He requests her to stop referring to him as Four, yet he doesn't provide another name, sparking her interest.

chapter 23

Tris spends the night in Four's quarters, finding comfort in his intelligence and bravery. Despite waking up in discomfort, she enjoys Four's comforting touch as he inspects her wounds. Adhering to Four's advice, she appears fearful as she enters the dining area, noticing Al and Drew's absence. Her friends are stunned when they see her battered condition and learn about the cruel assault, struggling to accept Al's involvement. Drew arrives, also looking beaten, bringing a satisfied smile to Four's face. Following lunch, the group is escorted by Four to the Pit and the structure above it. Christina seeks Tris's forgiveness for her past actions, which Tris dismisses. The group is then introduced to the next phase of training in a dim room. Four explains they'll be faced with fear simulations, aware they are in a simulation. Their final test will be facing their fears in front of Dauntless leaders and will greatly impact their final scores. Upon their return, they find a remorseful Al, who repeatedly apologizes to Tris. Unforgiving, Tris warns Al to avoid her or face serious repercussions.

chapter 24

Tris is woken up by Christina during a nightmare, alerting her to Al's peril. They rush to the Pit and are horrified to find Al's dead body being pulled from the chasm. It's a grim reminder that every year, an initiate ends up jumping into the chasm. Overwhelmed, Tris flees and finds solace in Tori. After a consoling conversation, they attend Al's boisterous and alcohol-laden funeral, which is starkly different from the somber Abnegation style. Molly tries to taunt Tris about her father's influence on her faction decision but ends up on the receiving end of Tris's punch. Will intervenes to separate them. Eric eulogizes Al's bravery in the face of the unknown, but Tris, upset by the glorification of suicide, leaves. Four finds her in a corridor and calms her down, warning her of prying eyes. He tells her that her bravery shines when she acts selflessly, as she did while protecting Al. He adds that the Dauntless are more concerned with manipulating her thoughts rather than her actions. Impressed by her courage, Four and Tris share a comforting embrace.

chapter 25

Following a trip to the tattoo studio, Tris, Will, and Christina huddle at the chasm's edge. Tris now sports a tattoo depicting the Abnegation symbol, reflecting her roots. Discarding old Erudite reports into the chasm, they discuss Jeanine, Erudite's leader. Tris harbors fears that Jeanine may instigate a revolt. As Will and Christina depart, Tris notices Four scaling the Pit's walls and discreetly trails him to the fear landscape room. He welcomes her to his simulation, hinting that it will clarify the origin of his moniker ‘Four’. The simulation commences with a confrontation of Four's acrophobia, involving a leap off a skyscraper. Subsequently, they face a situation inducing claustrophobia, leaving Tris excited due to their close proximity. Four's next challenge entails killing an armed woman. Lastly, a lean man, Marcus, who Tris identifies as her father's associate and Four's father, appears wielding a belt. As Marcus multiples and one of them strikes Tobias with the belt, Tris intervenes. Tobias intercepts and the scene evaporates. Post simulation, Tris comprehends that Tobias' nickname, Four, stems from his four fears. The pair cling to each other for comfort, and Tobias, holding her hand, intimates he has something additional to reveal.

chapter 26

As Tris and Tobias approach the Pit hand in hand, Tris inquires about Tobias's aptitude test results, hoping he might be Divergent like her. She's let down when he reveals he was assigned Abnegation. They sit near the river in the chasm and Tris questions his reasons for leaving Abnegation. His reluctance to answer makes it clear he fled from his father's abusive behavior. They reflect on their Dauntless and Abnegation qualities. Tobias admits he doesn't feel at home in Dauntless, while Tris confesses she always felt she lacked the selflessness required for Abnegation. Tobias however, counters her self-perception, asserting she possesses ample selflessness, intelligence and courage. He requests she call him by his first name and they share their first kiss.

chapter 27

Tris, Christina, and Will are cheerfully on their way to breakfast when Tris's happiness drops abruptly. Tobias walks in but doesn't recognize her presence. Uriah, relying on Zeke's information, informs them that the trainees will have to navigate through an instructor's fear landscape. Despite Christina's guess that it'll be Four's, Tris doubts this since he would never let anyone witness his father's brutality. As expected, Lauren, a Dauntless-born teacher, informs them that they'll be going through one of her fears for the initial stage. Tris is confronted with a scenario of abduction, which triggers the horrifying memory of Peter's assault. Amidst the simulation, she hears someone instruct Lauren to halt the process. Emerging from the nightmare sobbing, Tris is lambasted by Tobias for her "pathetic" display. In her anger, she slaps him and storms out of the room.

chapter 28

After not performing well, Tris desires to return home but understands she can't. Breaking the rule, she goes to see Caleb at the Erudite compound unsupervised. They meet in a library and then move to a park for privacy. Caleb discloses that the Erudite are scheming something dreadful, but he is unsure whom to believe. Tris perceives his doubt as a betrayal of Abnegation, which angers her. Before leaving, she informs Caleb about their mother's request to investigate the simulation serum. Just as she's about to depart, two Erudite men request her presence at headquarters to meet Jeanine, their leader. Tris recognizes Jeanine's voice from her aptitude test and recalls hearing her voice while being attacked by Peter, Drew, and Al. Jeanine inquires about Tris's missing test results, forcing Tris to lie to keep her Divergent status a secret. Back at Dauntless, Eric confronts Tris threatening her and her friends. Tobias intervenes and they pretend that Tris was running away due to a romantic refusal from Tobias. After Eric leaves, Tobias explains his harshness towards Tris was to avoid showing preference. They agree to meet again later. In the dorm, Christina admits to kissing Will. Tris keeps quiet about her kiss with Tobias, though she's tempted to share. Later, Tris and Tobias sneak out to the city, sharing a passionate kiss on the train ride. Once there, Tobias points out the Erudite compound’s lights are still on against regulations. He reveals he found computer files illustrating Erudite's war strategy against Abnegation before training. Tris speculates the Erudite will need the Dauntless as soldiers, yet is uncertain of their takeover plan.

chapter 29

The Dauntless compound buzzes with excitement and debauchery on initiation day, with many already inebriated by midday. Tris, having brought her lunch back to the dorm, realizes she’s unconsciously chosen the traditional foods of Abnegation and starts to question her faction choice. Falling into a nap, she is later awakened by Christina and they head together to the Pit for the initiation. In the initiation, each newbie's fear landscape is timed and presented before a panel of judges. Their reactions, including heart rates, are displayed on large screens for the other trainees to see and they cheer for each other as they complete the task. The initiates are tested in descending order of their ranks, meaning Tris will be the last one to go. When it's her turn, she moves up front and Eric administers her with an injection of orange liquid.

chapter 30

Tris keeps in mind Tobias's mention of mental preparedness as crucial for the last initiation process. She comprehends that her first fear simulation isn't about a massive group of birds, but rather about losing command. Instead of physically battling the crows, she envisions herself as strong. Recollecting the sensation of wielding a firearm, she sees a gun materialize on the ground. She guns down the birds and the scene dissipates. Subsequently, she's trapped in a glass enclosure. Her effort to shatter the glass barehanded doesn't work, so she visualizes the glass as ice which breaks on her next strike. Subsequently, she eludes drowning and saves herself from being set on fire by creating a downpour. She stays composed when faced with disfigured bodies threatening to capture her. She then confronts her sexual fears, refusing Tobias's advances in a hallucination. Lastly, a vision of Jeanine commands Tris to annihilate her whole family at gunpoint. Recalling that self-sacrifice can denote bravery, Tris lets her gun fall and sacrifices herself instead.

chapter 31

After the end of the simulation, Eric praises Tris and notifies her about the tracking device he plans to inject into all Dauntless members. This only makes Tris more suspicious of his connection with Jeanine. Although worried, she allows him to proceed. Eric discloses that the final standings will be shared at a later banquet. Tobias and Tris depart together, where he suggests that her seven fears could land her at the top of the rankings. They return to the dormitory. During an intimate moment, Tris expresses her concern over Tobias' intentions. He reassures her, confessing his own inexperience in romantic relations. Tris reveals her Abnegation tattoo to Tobias, who in turn uncovers his tattoos representing all the factions. He explains its symbolism - the importance of embodying different virtues instead of restricting oneself to just one. They mutually decide to alert Abnegation regarding the potential threat from Erudite.

chapter 32

Tris and Tobias part ways at the dining hall after a day spent in conversation and close contact. When questioned by Christina about her day, Tris does not divulge the truth. As they chat about possible careers and experiences with fear landscapes, Tris confesses to a fear of intimacy when asked about the panel's reaction to her fear, but omits any mention of Tobias. Eric then praises the initiates and discloses the final positions; Tris tops the leaderboard, with Peter, Will, and Christina also ranking high. Unfortunately, Molly and Drew rank low and face expulsion. Celebratory kisses are exchanged between Will and Christina, and then between Tobias and Tris, catching her companions off guard. Upon feeling the prick of the injection on her neck, Tris has an epiphany - the Erudite could use the serum to manipulate the Dauntless. She plans to share her suspicion with Tobias privately.

chapter 33

Tris initially plans to find Tobias after the banquet but dozes off. She wakes up to Christina and other initiates sleepwalking out of the dorm under the influence of a serum. As they head towards the Pit, she pretends to be under the serum's influence. They collect guns from a heap. Tris chooses to defend her original faction rather than fight it and follows the sleepwalking Dauntless onto a train. With a squeeze of her hand, Tobias communicates his Divergent status. Upon reaching the Abnegation stronghold, Tobias urges Tris to flee. Instead, she stays with the crowd, searching for her family, while witnessing Dauntless members ruthlessly killing Abnegation members. Eric shows up and while gloating about his leadership skills compared to Tobias's, he points his gun at Tris. Eric prepares to shoot Tobias, but Tris saves him by shooting Eric in the foot. They attempt to escape but Tris gets hit in the shoulder. Eric commands them to give up.

chapter 34

Tobias and Tris, who is bleeding heavily, are taken to Jeanine's hiding place at the Abnegation base by a soldier. A higher-up from the Erudite faction refers to them as "Divergent rebels". Jeanine reveals she had doubts about Tris, but she missed Tobias’s Divergence. Tobias facetiously encourages Jeanine to end their lives, but she wants to perform more tests. She's developed a new serum that can affect Divergents, unlike the old one. She also wants to understand why Abnegation produces the most Divergents, as she intends to form a new government with the Erudite, Dauntless, Candor factions, and assimilate Abnegation into her military. Jeanine decides to try the new serum on Tobias first, aiming to control him by distorting his perception. Tris is to be killed when the meeting concludes. Tobias kisses Tris and attacks Jeanine, but guards restrain him for Jeanine to administer the serum. Under the serum's influence, Tobias perceives Tris as a threat and attempts to strangle her. Guards separate them, and Jeanine sends Tobias to supervise the control room. The guards render Tris unconscious when they lead her away.

chapter 35

Drained from losing blood, Tris finds herself waking up in a glass enclosure. The situation is real, not a simulation, and water starts pouring into the tank. Tris spots a camera on the wall, realizing Jeanine is watching her. She makes futile attempts to escape, contemplating her imminent death, her family, and God. Just as she's about to drown, her mother arrives, shattering the glass and rescuing her. Escaping together, Tris discovers her mother is also Divergent. She finds out that unlike the rest of their faction, Divergents' minds cannot be manipulated. They run towards the building where Tris' brother and father are hiding. However, soldiers close in on them. Her mother instructs her to run and faces the soldiers herself. As Tris flees, she hears gunshots and witnesses her mother's collapse and death. Overwhelmed by grief, she considers surrendering but ultimately decides to continue running.

chapter 36

Tris narrowly escapes three pursuing Dauntless soldiers, ultimately being forced to shoot her pursuer, Will, in the head. She then heads to her family's hideout, following her mother's guidance. Once inside, she reunites with her brother Caleb, her father, and others from Abnegation, including Marcus. Her injuries overwhelm her, and she faints from the loss of blood. Caleb and her father tend to her bullet wound, removing it and stitching her up. Caleb shares that he investigated the serum at their mother's insistence and discovered Erudite's war-driven plans of crafting long-range serum transmitters, leading him to abandon initiation. Tris shares with them about Erudite's manipulation of the Dauntless army, suspecting Marcus' surprised reaction is not genuine. She deduces that the control system for the army must be at the Dauntless headquarters, where Tobias once worked. She suggests they set out to dismantle the computer system there. She's taken aback when her father requests her guidance, treating her as an equal.

chapter 37

Tris, along with Caleb, their dad, and Marcus, board a train to Dauntless Headquarters. Marcus believes Tris regrets her decision to join Dauntless, yet she asserts that it taught her selflessness. Upon reaching, Tris demonstrates the technique of disembarking from the train and entering the massive Pit. They encounter a guard shooting at them in the Pit. Tris identifies him as Peter, not under any trance. She subdues him, injures his arm, and makes him guide them to the computers. Despite being shocked by Tris's harsh actions, her father does not object when she eliminates a few more guards as they ascend to the top floor. Initially, the others accompany her, but she instructs Caleb and Marcus to stay back with Peter while she and her father continue to the control room. They ride an elevator to the Pit's top. Her father, upon the elevator doors opening, neutralizes two guards. He then sacrifices his life while distracting and eliminating the remaining troops. Tris, leaving behind her father, reaches the end of the corridor where she discovers Tobias in a simulation room filled with screens.

chapter 38

A bewildered Tobias points his firearm at Tris, demanding she relinquish her own. Complying, she charges at him, barely evading his bullet. They grapple on the ground for his weapon. Despite being punched and shoved against a wall by Tobias, Tris manages to snatch the gun. She desperately hopes he will recognize her, not wanting to kill him. When he fails to, she recalls her teachings of courage and selflessness, and hands the weapon back to him. He puts the gun against her forehead as she gently touches his chest.

chapter 39

Tobias hesitates before firing, giving Tris the chance to hug him. The gun slips from his hand, breaking his trance, and they share a tearful kiss. They turn to the screens, puzzled by how the program is controlling the masses, and see Dauntless soldiers closing in on Caleb, Marcus, and Peter. Tobias intervenes on the computer in time to rescue them. The monitors show chaos as Dauntless citizens city-wide are yanked from their trances, descending into fighting and gunfire. They exit the control room, taking the computer's hard drive. Tris stumbles upon her father's corpse in the corridor, causing her to throw up. They descend to the ground floor in an elevator, where Tobias reluctantly meets his father again. Tris sternly threatens Marcus to keep his distance before apologizing to Tobias, who reassures her. Her mind is preoccupied with worry about her friends, especially contemplating Christina's reaction upon discovering she killed Will. They board a train heading for Amity headquarters, though Tris feels uneasy with Marcus and Peter's presence. During the journey, Tobias confesses his love for Tris and they kiss. As Marcus eyes the hard drive in Tris' possession, causing her discomfort, she recognizes they are now all factionless, unsure of the future.

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