Not another Hunger Games

Divergent scores big at the box office

The+Divergent+world+consists+of+five+factions%2C+or+groups.+Each+group+is+identified+with+certain+characteristics+and+insignias.++%28Top+row%2C+left+to+right%29+The+factions+are+Erudite%2C+Dauntless%2C+%28bottom+row%2C+left+to+right%29+Candor%2C+Abnegation%2C+and+Amity.+

Photo by Jessica Stephenson

The Divergent world consists of five factions, or groups. Each group is identified with certain characteristics and insignias. (Top row, left to right) The factions are Erudite, Dauntless, (bottom row, left to right) Candor, Abnegation, and Amity.

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With the release of Divergent on March 21, Hollywood has managed to create yet another book-to-film adaptation of a young adult novel following in the foot steps of Twilight and The Hunger Games. But Divergent is unlike its fellow mega-million franchises. While similarities can be drawn between Divergent and The Hunger Games dystopian nature, the similarities end there. Where The Hunger Games explores themes of inequality between the rich and poor, Divergent delves into fear and how it is overcome.

The story is set in a futuristic version of Chicago, where society has been divided into five factions: Amity, Candor, Erudite, Dauntless, and Abnegation. The peaceful got to Amity to become the community’s farmers and artists, the honest find themselves in Candor serving as lawyers or judges, Erudite is filled with intelligent scientists and teachers, and the brave are sent to Dauntless to protect the city. Lastly, the Abnegation are selfless and serve as council members for the community as well as helping the homeless, who are known as factionless. Each member of the community is born into a faction, and then at the age of 16 they are allowed to choose whether they want to stay with their families in their original factions or choose another. The story follows a girl named Tris Prior as she tries to make that decision.

What faction would you belong to?

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After an inconclusive aptitude test, Tris finds that she is divergent, someone who doesn’t perfectly fit into an individual faction. Unsure of what to do, Tris makes the crucial decision to leave her family and life in Abnegation to become a Dauntless initiate.

As is such with any adaptation, the script wasn’t an exact replica of the original book but it still manages to stay true to the basic plot and concept of the source material. However, for all its virtues, the film left out minor plot points and details from the first book that later take on a more integral role of the narrative in the following novels.

Divergent’s biggest blunder comes in its inability to thoroughly explain what a divergent is and why they pose such a great threat to society. The government wants a perfect Utopia, one where every member sticks to their role in society and doesn’t stray beyond the boundary lines set forth. Divergents don’t fill the mold that government has provided and are therefore viewed as a threat to Utopia. Since the Divergents don’t fit into just one faction, it makes it harder for the government to control them.

Instead of focusing so hard on becoming the next big thing, the filmmakers should of slowed down and created a closer adaptation of the book. Had they done this, they would have satisfied all audiences, regardless of whether or not they read the book. Instead, they got disappointed readers and confused moviegoers.

If you were living in the world of Divergent what faction would you belong to? Take the quiz to find out.