This week's topic is just perfect since I'm in the middle of Insurgent right now! After finishing Divergent, I actually took the faction quiz and came up with Erudite. Since this topic is about which faction I would choose though, I'm going to have to say none.
I'd choose to be divergent. In my opinion, allowing any one personality trait or perspective to totally dominate the person you are isn't really natural and isn't beneficial to anyone. There are times to be selfless, but there are also times to put yourself first just as there are times to look at a problem scientifically and times to allow empathy and emotion to influence the way the problem is dealt with. Sometimes, keeping the truth to yourself to spare someone's feelings can be the right thing to do too. And I certainly don't feel brave or particularly peaceful all the time.
In my opinion, it all depends on the circumstance, and behaving in a certain way all the time, despite the circumstance, just doesn't make sense.
What do you think? Do you think a person really can be defined by a single faction? Do you think it makes sense to strive to be selfless (or intelligent, brave, peaceful, honest) all the time? Or is there a time and place for even the more peaceful person to protest and take up arms (for example)?
I think we all have it within us to be any one of these at a given time. However, I do think each person tends to lean more toward one, or a few, of these than others. I might be Dauntless when it comes to writing, or standing up for what I believe in... but there are other areas in my life where I know courage fails me. And while I value intelligence and the pursuit of knowledge, I value even more selflessness. Some would put being Erudite over Abnegation.
ReplyDeleteIt's an interesting question, and it certainly makes you think and dig deep. :)
The whole idea of breaking our society up like that and of sorting people into such rigid factions really does make you think about yourself and your own tendencies. The books are so entertaining and action-packed that it's easy (at least for me) to forget the bigger picture/social commentary they also present. I guess there really aren't any simple answers to this one.
DeleteAh, mind-merge :) As you saw I also think that you can be 100% one faction. Interesting though that you seemed to tend to erudite - haven't seen many of those around!
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's true - I haven't seen many other Erudite initiates either, haha. But really, I swear I'm really not just a cold Erudite - I have feelings too! ;)
DeleteChoosing to be divergent would be choosing to be factionless, which, if you ask me, would be very Dauntless of you. I'd be curious if you'd be able to make that choice living in the world Tris was living in--where factionless is worse than death. I'm curious to read the third book and see how they got separated into factions in the first place. Maybe there's a scientific reason behind it.
ReplyDeleteThat's true - being factionless basically sounds like being homeless. But then again, the factionless found a way to come together into a community of their own. I think the freedom of being able to choose your own life, and the satisfaction which would come of building up a life from scratch, would be worth leaving the faction system.
DeleteGood point. I think most of us have a mix of all.
ReplyDeleteI'd definitely be Divergent, and I think pretty well everyone else would be too. If I had to choose a faction, I'd likely end up in Erudite mostly because I love learning. I only wish I was brave enough to choose Dauntless.
ReplyDeleteYa, I think most people would be Divergent too :) And like you, I also love learning - Erudite gets a bad wrap in Divergent/Insurgent, but at the heart of the faction, the search for knowledge doesn't have to be such a cold and selfish pursuit (I hope!)
Delete