Beatrice [Audio]

Chapter Two

Since I have an enormous reader's crush on Caleb, I'll start with talking about him in this entry. Roth's a really clever author that throws in little subtle tells for future events; I suppose no one can say that they're surprised by anything that happens, because most everything has foreshadowing preceding it. But, since the book is told from Beatrice's point of view, what slips past her usually slips past the reader as well.

Sneakily, oh so sneakily, Roth slips in, "He knows where he belongs, and as far as I know, he always has." Caleb has, indeed always known where he belongs, but she sets up Beatrice to be completely floored by where he does truly belong. While waiting for her brother to return, she thinks about how he lectures her less about her duties, and how he brushed off her discomfort in Abnegation by saying, "Just do what you're supposed to." Upon retrospection and second reading it's extremely obvious that Caleb belongs in Abnegation even less that his Dauntless-inclined sister, but the reader sees through her eyes and only sees her perfect older brother whom she looks up to.

After Caleb returns, Beatrice goes in for her own aptitude test. As we discussed in class, the serum is incredibly efficient when it comes to testing  someone's true thoughts, but the stimuli in themselves are interesting. The dog, looking back reminds me of certain initiate with a thirst for blood--who may or may not eventually deviate from his jerk ways for a moment or two. Beatrice bows her head in fear of the dog, and then uses her brain, which is the time when the dog becomes submissive. Immediately after which it becomes vicious again.

I believe Mrs. Redmond will see my parallel without me saying too much more and spoiling something! I don't think this was intentional by Roth by any means, but I happened to make the connection.

Chapter One

Since I am writing after the completion of the book (and the second one, for that matter) I'll do my best to think back on what I thought.

Chapter one opened us up to Beatrice Prior and her mother and a bit of Abnegation custom. In an act of what seems like loving and paternal care, the reader sees Mrs. Prior cut her daughter's hair; but we also learn that the Abnegation only cut their hair as to not stand out. The blankness of Beatrice's speech in the beginning chapters adds to the general effect of the book, because as it goes on, her descriptions become more vivid, bold, and honest--when her emotions are distraught, you see it, and I like that about Roth's writing. I'm getting a bit ahead of myself, though.

"I sneak a look at my reflection--not out of vanity, but out of curiosity. A lot can change about a person's appearance in three months."

Vanity is similar to pride, which is considered one of those seven deadly pitfalls of human nature, but I found it interesting that Beatrice felt the need to separate the two. After all, the reader is simply watching her thoughts, meaning that she felt the need to clarify to herself that she is not self-indulgent. It shows a bit of foreshadowing that she does not belong--after all, in a faction where they do not think about themselves, introverted battles of right and wrong should never even come into question.

I caught a symbol in the mirror, which is something that recurs even in the second book. We as humans go through our lives without seeing ourselves without the help of cameras and reflections, but Beatrice is denied that. She never really sees herself, but she wants to, as stated with her watch; which is reasonable, since the entire book has to do with the strangeness of her Divergence.

Beatrice Prior does not belong--yet, of course.

We are also introduced to Caleb! My precious favorite character through-and-through. He doesn't say much yet, but Beatrice admires him for his "innate" selflessness and they split up so he can go to his advanced math class--and thus the subtle signs begin.