Divergent Chapter 4 - Chapter Summary
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Divergent Chapter 4This is a summary of Divergent Chapter 4 which was written by Veronica Roth. In this article you will find both a detailed summary and a short summary of a chapter where the main character, Beatrice Prior, must try to sort out her feelings regarding leaving her family and trying something new or staying loyal to her loved ones.
Feel free to check out other Divergent chapter summaries by using the navigation links found at the bottom of this page. If you haven't read the Divergent book yet, you can find instructions on how to download a free copy in the summaries of chapter 1 and of chapter 2. |
Divergent Chapter 4 Summary (Extended Version)
When Beatrice arrives home, she starts to think about the Abnegation ways of life and tries to decide if she can force herself to fit in because she does think it's a great way to live. She sneaks a peak at her reflection in her watch, admires the simplicity and comfort the Abnegation plain houses provide and tries to appreciate the fact that you cannot be unique in her faction (as this prevents jealousy).
When Caleb, Susan and Susan's brother (Robert) arrive, they ask Beatrice if she's okay. Beatrice lies and said the clear liquid from the testing made her sick. Susan and Robert are fooled, but Caleb is not. Caleb and Susan exchange flirty glances and Beatrice wonders if she'll be around in Abnegation to see them marry and have children.
It's Beatrice's turn to cook dinner, but Caleb helps without saying a word. His natural goodness and inborn selflessness makes her mad. They set the table and their parents come home.
At the Abnegation dinner table, the parents talk while the children listen unless they are directly asked a question. Beatrice's mother says that she heard there was a problem with one of the aptitude tests and the results had to be reported verbally due to the student getting sick. When she asks Caleb and Beatrice if they knew about that, they both shook their heads, "no." They are both good liars and not cut out for Candor.
Beatrice's father is looking worried, so her mother asks him what is wrong. He explains that he had a rough day because his coworker, Marcus, a fellow political leader also had a bad day. Marcus is a particularly influential leader. We find out that all political leaders are Abnegation because their faction is regarded as incorruptible. Abnegation makes all political decisions, but representatives from other factions are free to speak in meetings about any issues they choose. It has been this way since the beginning of the great peace because the factions are afraid that war would ensue if it were done any other way.
Beatrice's mother mentions a report that Jeanine Matthews, an Erudite faction leader that her father often complains about and asks if that is what the stress is about. Beatrice can't help but break her factions rules by repeatedly asking questions about the report, even though Caleb's dirty looks bother her. It turns out that Jeanine released a report about Marcus's character that is very negative- that his violence and cruelty to his son is what made his son choose Dauntless instead of Abnegation.
Veronica Roth (Divergent author) then explains that it is very rare for someone to leave Abnegation, but Marcus's son, Tobias, left the Dauntless two years ago and devastated Marcus. Marcus's wife had died giving birth to their second child, so Tobias was the only family that he had left. Beatrice didn't know Tobias since he rarely attended community events and didn't join Marcus for dinner at their house.
Beatrice's mother can hardly believe that Marcus was called cruel as her father speaks of Marcus's son's betrayal for leaving the Abnegation faction. Then he explains that the Erudite have been creating reports like this for months because valuing knowledge above all else results in a lust for power. Beatrice nods because she knows she won't choose Erudite, one of the factions the aptitude test said she was qualified for because she is her father's daughter.
Caleb and Beatrice are sent upstairs after dinner despite Caleb insisting that he help clean up as they are supposed to be thinking about the Choosing Ceremony the next day. Beatrice wishes she could tell her family what happened so they could help her choose. As they reach the top of the stairs, Caleb reminds her that they must think of their family, but also of themselves. This shocks Beatrice because she's never heard him speak of being selfish, so she reassures him that the tests don't have to change their choices. "Don't they though?" he responds as he walks away. As he goes into his bedroom she sees that his bed is unmade and a stack of books sits on his desk.
This is when Beatrice realizes that it will take a great act of selflessness to choose Abnegation and a great act of courage to choose Dauntless. Therefore, whatever faction she chooses tomorrow will be the correct one for her.
When Caleb, Susan and Susan's brother (Robert) arrive, they ask Beatrice if she's okay. Beatrice lies and said the clear liquid from the testing made her sick. Susan and Robert are fooled, but Caleb is not. Caleb and Susan exchange flirty glances and Beatrice wonders if she'll be around in Abnegation to see them marry and have children.
It's Beatrice's turn to cook dinner, but Caleb helps without saying a word. His natural goodness and inborn selflessness makes her mad. They set the table and their parents come home.
At the Abnegation dinner table, the parents talk while the children listen unless they are directly asked a question. Beatrice's mother says that she heard there was a problem with one of the aptitude tests and the results had to be reported verbally due to the student getting sick. When she asks Caleb and Beatrice if they knew about that, they both shook their heads, "no." They are both good liars and not cut out for Candor.
Beatrice's father is looking worried, so her mother asks him what is wrong. He explains that he had a rough day because his coworker, Marcus, a fellow political leader also had a bad day. Marcus is a particularly influential leader. We find out that all political leaders are Abnegation because their faction is regarded as incorruptible. Abnegation makes all political decisions, but representatives from other factions are free to speak in meetings about any issues they choose. It has been this way since the beginning of the great peace because the factions are afraid that war would ensue if it were done any other way.
Beatrice's mother mentions a report that Jeanine Matthews, an Erudite faction leader that her father often complains about and asks if that is what the stress is about. Beatrice can't help but break her factions rules by repeatedly asking questions about the report, even though Caleb's dirty looks bother her. It turns out that Jeanine released a report about Marcus's character that is very negative- that his violence and cruelty to his son is what made his son choose Dauntless instead of Abnegation.
Veronica Roth (Divergent author) then explains that it is very rare for someone to leave Abnegation, but Marcus's son, Tobias, left the Dauntless two years ago and devastated Marcus. Marcus's wife had died giving birth to their second child, so Tobias was the only family that he had left. Beatrice didn't know Tobias since he rarely attended community events and didn't join Marcus for dinner at their house.
Beatrice's mother can hardly believe that Marcus was called cruel as her father speaks of Marcus's son's betrayal for leaving the Abnegation faction. Then he explains that the Erudite have been creating reports like this for months because valuing knowledge above all else results in a lust for power. Beatrice nods because she knows she won't choose Erudite, one of the factions the aptitude test said she was qualified for because she is her father's daughter.
Caleb and Beatrice are sent upstairs after dinner despite Caleb insisting that he help clean up as they are supposed to be thinking about the Choosing Ceremony the next day. Beatrice wishes she could tell her family what happened so they could help her choose. As they reach the top of the stairs, Caleb reminds her that they must think of their family, but also of themselves. This shocks Beatrice because she's never heard him speak of being selfish, so she reassures him that the tests don't have to change their choices. "Don't they though?" he responds as he walks away. As he goes into his bedroom she sees that his bed is unmade and a stack of books sits on his desk.
This is when Beatrice realizes that it will take a great act of selflessness to choose Abnegation and a great act of courage to choose Dauntless. Therefore, whatever faction she chooses tomorrow will be the correct one for her.
Short Summary of Chapter 4
In Chapter 4 of Divergent by Veronica Roth, Caleb doesn't believe Beatrice when she says that she left the aptitude test because she was sick. At dinner, their parents discuss the negative reports about Abnegation that are being released by Jeanine Matthews, Erudite leader. The most recent one said that Marcus Eaton, Abnegation political leader, was violent toward his son Tobias which forced him to leave the faction and choose Dauntless. Beatrice's father called Tobias a traitor and the family was upset about the implication that Marcus could be cruel.
Beatrice and Caleb briefly discuss how the aptitude test could change your mind about which faction to choose before heading to their rooms. Beatrice realizes that it will take courage to leave Abnegation and selflessness to go to Dauntless, so she knows she'll make the right choice.
Beatrice and Caleb briefly discuss how the aptitude test could change your mind about which faction to choose before heading to their rooms. Beatrice realizes that it will take courage to leave Abnegation and selflessness to go to Dauntless, so she knows she'll make the right choice.
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