Chapters Thirteen Through Fifteen

Even before anything happened, Eric's posture and tone foreshadowed something cruel. Al is unfortunate enough to fall on Eric's bad side.

It seems to me as if many newcomer initiated are having difficulties suppressing their old ways. Al certainly is having the hardest time transitioning, as evidenced by his tearful nights and nightmares. Unfortunately for Al, he is a Candor and his honesty doesn't help him in the initiation process. I have a feeling that Al will not be successful in Dauntless even if he survives initiation, and I pity him.

Tris herself is having trouble hiding her Divergent side; the combination of courage and selflessness used in defending Al is evidence of her Abnegation and Dauntless aptitudes. Tris even admits that she feels the Divergent traits radiating from herself.

After her episode of bravery, Tris argues with Four since he purposely cut her ear with the knife. I notice that although he exclaims, "I'm getting a little tired of waiting for you to catch on!", Four never clarifies what he wants Tris to catch on to. I suppose it could be that she needs to keep a low profile if she wants to get into the faction in a good position.

On the morning of visiting day, Tris notices that "dauntless initiation has stolen whatever softness my body had". Although referring to her physique, the phrase also applies to her psyche/personality.
Even after knocking Molly down, Tris beat her brutally-- something she would never have even been able to fathom as a member of Abnegation. She was beating Molly so hard that Four even had to intervene in order to prevent permanent injury. In away, however, the beating was understandable considering Molly's vicious bullying of Tris. Tris even admits that she doesn't even feel guilty about her overkill fight with Molly.

Furthermore, Tris engaged in aggressive arguments with both Four and Will's sister Cara, whom she hadn't even met before. Such a bold attitude is nothing like the Beatrice we used to know. More and more, Tris is disregarding and forgetting the teachings of her parents with each passing day as a Dauntless. It should be interesting when she and her mother meet again, if they do.

Upon reuniting with her mother on Visiting Day, I obtained some much desired information about the inner workings of the factions. I have a feeling that there is some deep Government running these factions for some unsavory purpose, and I am interested to get down to the bottom of who is behind all of it. Natalie Prior, Tris's mother seems to have an idea as to what is going on, but she simply will not divulge the information to Tris. In particular, the issue that "'tensions between [the] factions are higher than ever'" interests me. Although founded as a Utopian society, it is clear that the factions are becoming a dystopian compound. The way that the people are now locked in and guarded as well as the rising tensions seems to allude that something secret is happening. Something so dangerous would indeed would put Tris's safety at risk considering that she is "Divergent", and that is something that is dangerous under normal conditions.

The way that Natalie Prior stated that Four looked familiar to her. That is a rather odd statement, and I feel it may become of importance later. Also, when Natalie pulled Tris aside to discuss the her life as a Dauntless, she inspects a light fixture nearby as if looking for a camera or bug monitoring them. it was all very odd, especially how she couldn't tell Tris why being Divergent was so bad or why she needed to know more about the simulation serum. I am desperate for some answers here, but I'm getting even more questions than I am answers as I read on. Perhaps the answers are saved for later books? I'll be finding out in due time, that's for sure.