BE WHO YOU WANT TO BE
Theme of Divergent by Veronica Roth
Imagine being amongst a thousand other people who looked exactly like you, how would people be able to distinguish you from the rest? By your self identity, that's how! Finding your self identity means taking your personal character traits to create a sense of self. In Veronica Roth's Divergent the main theme seen throughout the novel is "Do not be what others want you to be, be who you want to be." This theme is reiterated in the book by way of depicting character’s recurrent struggle with their self-identity. For example, Tobias does not follow in the footsteps of his father to create his own identity and path. This theme is also seen when Natalie Prior, Tris’ mother transfers to Abnegation and ignores her self-identity yet staying true to it until the end. Lastly, the struggle with self-identity is seen when Beatrice transfers to Dauntless, breaking the mold of the average Abnegation girl.
Tobias is one of the first in the story to create his own path by transferring out of Abnegation. Tobias not only hopes to escape the fate of his father, but to become a better person by doing so. Tobias’ father, as revealed on page 330 of the novel was an abusive and unkind man whose true character was hidden behind a mask of a “selfless Abnegation leader”. He was the only role model for Tobias after his mother had passed away. One would assume that Tobias would grow up to follow the path of his father but, instead of choosing to become a secretly cruel abnegation member that his father was Tobias instead transfers out of Abnegation and Dauntless. This decision allows him to develop into a kind and strong young adult. Tobias’ character comes out when he yells "ENOUGH!" on page 111 while Tris is being unreasonably beaten in a fight. By staying true to his inner beliefs, Tobias allows the beatings to end and reveals that he is much more merciful and kind than his father.
Tris' mother, Natalie, was divergent and a...