The author of the Divergent franchise faces one of the books’ most divisive death with a tinge of humor 11 years later. The debut novel of Veronica Roth, the bestselling trilogy was an influential contribution to the literary trend of dystopian young adult novels, following Beatrice Prior, who later changes her name to Tris, as she struggles with her new identity as both Tris and as a Divergent, the crumbling society of the dystopian Chicago she inhabits, and a romance with one of her instructors, Tobias “Four” Eaton. In the third novel, Allegiant, Tris is shot and dies of her wounds.
On Instagram, Roth posted a humorous reflection regarding a plot twist that arguably made the whole fandom mad. While she doesn’t explicitly state which plot twist she’s talking about, those familiar with the book series and the movie franchise, starring Shailene Woodley (Tris) and Theo James (Tobias/Four), don’t need to rack their brains to figure out which twist she’s referring to. See the post below:
What This Means For The Divergent Franchise
Roth Laid A Steady Foundation For Tris’ Fate
In the first book, Divergent, Tris isn’t much of a selfless character, something her Divergent status should have given her. Among other traits, Tris’ test results include her being fit for Abnegation, which are considered the most selfless of the five Divergent factions. She didn’t display this trait until after the first book, completing a smaller character arc. In the second book, Insurgent, Tris is selfless but, in some ways, was still selfish in the sense of having suicidal tendencies, like rushing toward danger and preferring death as a favorable outcome over others.
Others, however, found Tris’ death to be realistic and a direct dissent from the main characters, at times, being frustratingly invincible.
In Allegiant, the final book of the main Divergent trilogy, however, Tris is able to find what some saw as a pleasing compromise that allowed Tris to sacrifice herself and reunite with her dead mother. The move was a shock that didn’t sit well with fans, who argued that it didn’t deliver an optimistic ending for teenagers with dead parents, parents who would want to see their children live their lives fully instead of joining them in death. Others, however, found Tris’ death to be realistic and a direct dissent from the main characters, at times, being frustratingly invincible.
Our Take On Roth’s Post & Tris’ Death
Roth Ultimately Handled The Character With Grace
Tris’ death was a heartbreaking shock, but what came after, Tobias’ reaction, was even more gut-wrenching. I am, however, in the camp of being comfortable with Roth’s decision to kill off her main character. Ultimately, it served as a satisfying subversion, reinforced the stakes of a brutal, apocalyptic world, and provided a complex character arc that ended with Tris being a leader who was truly selfless, fearless, and able to find purpose in her life. In turn, the ending to the Divergent series was, while poignant, compelling and, in the end, optimistic because of Tris’ sacrifice.
Source: Veronica Roth/Instagram
The Divergent Series
Based on the young adult novel series by Veronica Roth, The Divergent Series is a multimedia franchise that eventually launched into a film trilogy adaptation starting in 2014. Set in a dystopian future, The Divergent Series follows Beatrice “Tris” Prior, a teenager who learns she is Divergent after taking a placement test for a faction, where people with particular virtues are sorted into. As a Divergent, she discovers that darkness lies beyond the veil of their utopian society and that nothing is as it seems. The fourth and final film of the franchise was canceled before release, leaving the adaptation incomplete.
- Created by
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Veronica Roth
- Character(s)
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Beatrice Prior, Tobias Eaton, Christina (Divergent), Peter Hayes, Caleb Prior, Marcus Eaton, Tori Wu, Jeanine Matthews, Natalie Prior, Eric Coulter