So what's my point? I want to talk about the Divergent Trilogy, specifically about the main character of that series.
If you haven't read the entire Divergent Trilogy, STOP READING NOW! MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
Divergent, on the surface, is the story of a girl who comes of age, must choose her destiny, and falls in love with an incredibly attractive young man named after the number Four. Sounds like the average young adult novel, right? Totally cliche. But not so fast. The first book might give this impression, maybe even the second, but by the third installment in the series I noticed something interesting happening. Tris, who many may think of as the "main character" doesn't really possess a quality that no one else has. She's Divergent, but as we find out in Insurgent there are actually tons of Divergent people. She posseses the quality of three factions where most Divergents posses only two. I guess that's different, but still, nothing that can change the story. It puzzled me for a while, then it hit me. Duh, I thought, Tris isn't the main character! The more I thought about it the more obvious it became. So who is this main character? I may be wrong, but I really don't think I am. I think it's Four, better known as Tobias. Now, to make my case.
First of all, Tobias is a much more defined character than Tris. He has a history, scars that will never heal. He knows pain first hand, and he understands what risks should be taken and which should not. To further this point, Veronica Roth has stated that the Divergent trilogy was originally going to be in his point of view, but it just never felt right. So she created Tris.
Secondly, Tobias is really in the center of the story. Jeanine Matthews wants to take over the government run by Marcus Eaton, Tobias' father. After Jeanine takes control, Evelyn Eaton, Tobias' mother, takes the government from her. After that, Marcus and Johanna (leader of the Amity) rebel against her. Then in the middle of it all is Tobias, who is bitter with both his power-hungry parents, his dad for abusing him and his mom for abandoning him.
Lastly, Tobias has the ability to do something that no one else can do; forgive. In the end, when the memory serum is getting ready to be used on the city, Tobias has to wipe one of his parents memories before they destroy each other. However, in the end, instead of wiping her memory, he forgives his mother. He convinces her that power isn't what she ever wanted, and had the strength to forgive her even after she abandoned him to years of hell with his father. And he singlehandedly ends the war with the power of forgivness. ("I know that sounds like a cat poster, but it's true")
While there is a great deal to be said for Tris' sacrifice (how about that life ruining ending, Divergent fans?), in the end, it was Tobias' strength that saved the city. He overcame his bitterness and hurt, and although the pain would never heal, he chose to ignore it for the ones he loved. I didn't like Divergent much when I first read it, and it's still not among my favorites, but this man is one of my favorite characters possibly ever. He demonstrated what bitterness and anger does to a person, showed the power of forgivness, and despite having lost everything, continued to fight.
And I think that's pretty darn awesome.
