Chapter Eight

In this chapter official training begins bright and early, and the first lesson is how to fire a gun. Peter is targeted for his arrogance, and Tris makes another eye observation. Peter's eyes are a deep green, narrow, and sharp. Green, to me, is sort of an in between brown and blue when it comes to eye color, even though down to a phylogenetic sense I don't believe it is. I think that's interesting, and almost gives the impression that Peter will lie between two extremes--fancy that.

Will also gets his name in his chapter, and his lightly teasing nature is introduced. In essence, Tris learns that she does better when challenged to do well by others underestimating her. Through instigation she tends to rise to a benchmark, but it gives the impression that Tris feels the need to succeed because of others rather than herself, which I think is a bit of her Abnegation inclination. She makes her first group of friends... Ever, consisting of Al, Christina, and Will, and finally she lives like a self-serving human being.

After a bit of combat practice and a subtle "chemistry" lesson from Four they decide to get tattoos, though Tris is apprehensive. In the end, she decides on three ravens, which start her connection to birds--something that becomes significant later on. 

"I touch my collar bone, following the path of their flight straight to my heart. Three, one for every family member left behind."

Anyone who knows me well knows that familial bonds in stories get to me, and I thought this was really touching. I absolutely adore her connection her family, especially now, as the chapters go on, and she becomes more emotionally aware.