Through artistic elements, films can present the “true meaning” of a story. The movie Divergent artistically develops itself through the usage of themes, symbols, and foreshadowing to establish the unifying idea of individualism.
The film Divergent mainly focuses on the theme that one choice can change the course of life. The Divergent society is based upon five factions: Abnegation, which values selflessness; Dauntless, the soldiers of the city; Erudite, the keepers of knowledge; Candor, the just; and Amity, which values kindness. Tris, the protagonist, suffers the consequences of her choice (the Dauntless faction) when she regrets straying from Abnegation; Dauntless pushes her to the limit and assesses her qualifications …show more content…
Tris encounters the truth that she cannot truly fit in the faction system. She is bound to diverge from societal norms because her identity disagrees with the concept of conformity.
Divergent: Cultural Analysis The film Divergent reflects the values of bravery, family, and conformity. However, some of these values contradict the main idea: people are not subject to one trait because every person is diverse. To begin with, the Dauntless faction highly values bravery because they discourage allowing fear to take control of life. Dauntless “[believes] in the ordinary acts of bravery and the courage that rises one person to stand up for another” (“Script”). The members are constantly trained to confront and conquer their fears in order to attack challenges head on. Without the courage to face danger, Dauntless members, the protectors of the city, cannot ensure the safety of the public. Similarly, bravery is a valued characteristic in the contemporary world, which is often found in men and women who place their life on the line. These courageous people, such as military men and women, were not forced to risk death, but instead, they chose to fight and defend for their …show more content…
The dystopian society in Divergent expresses values that are removed from the values of the contemporary world. The ideals of the faction system defame human nature and destroy individualism.
On the other hand, artistically, Divergent can develop the motif of individuality and diversity. Through themes and symbolism, the film expresses the importance of personal identity and free choice. According to Jeanine, the leader of Erudite, human nature is a “weakness [people] need to overcome” (“Script”). In truth, human nature is unavoidable and is to be acknowledged. Uniformity cannot be achieved if diversity is to be expected within a