English Studies 12 - Inquiry Project
How do the varying aspects of one’s identity influence their actions, perception of the world, and the way others perceive them?
Divergent
A fictional movie published in Canada in 2014. It is based off of the book Divergent by Veronica Roth and directed by Neil Burger. The story is set in a futuristic dystopian society divided into five factions, each representing a different virtue. Teenagers must decide if they will remain in their factions or switch to another for the rest of their lives after taking a test to determine which one, they fit into. Tris doesn’t seem to fit in one specific faction like most people in society and makes a surprising choice when picking her faction.
Tris and Identity
1
How do the different aspects of Tris' identity influence her actions?
Tris is divergent, meaning that she is capable of being in three factions but really doesn't seem to completely fit in anywhere. She chooses to leave Abnegation since being in that faction doesn't come as naturally to her parents or others in the faction. Despite this, she doesn't feel quite at home in the Dauntless faction. Unlike following the rules of a specific faction, Tris develops her own moral compass which involves protecting others even when her life is at risk.
2
How does Tris' identity influence her view fo the world?
She perceives the world and society she lives in as more complex and threatening than the average person. Because of being divergent, she spends excessive amounts of time thinking about her identity and role within the factions while feeling constant fear that someone might find out about her divergence, and something might happen to her. Her identity as an Abnegation from childhood has led her to feel slightly guilty about leaving her family and missing them.
3
How does Tris' identity influence the way others perceive her?
Tris is perceived as suspicious and different by others throughout the movie because of her advanced ability to do well in dauntless tests and inability to completely fit in a faction. Close ones would call her brave, determined and compassionate while some people from abnegation would perceive her as someone who betrayed or abandoned her family.