Divergent: Week of 10/28/13

Pages: 177-282
Prompt: Compare the society in your book to the society today.

     Our society today, is completely different from the society in the book, and they even make reference to that during the story. They say things like "It was like that back then when..." and things like "It's different now, then it was then." So, the book flat out tells you that the society is different from ours today ("Divergent" is set in the future.) Though, if they didn't flat out tell you, then you would still be able to tell by how they explain things, and how they tell you about what things are like in their world. You would also be able to tell by how they act, and what they do and feel is right. You can tell that most people in the story, don't act how thye would today. For some people, that's a good thing, for some, that's not so good. In fact, it's pretty bad.

  There are a lot of differences between the two societies
and I would love to explain them to you. For one, 
because they live in Chicago, you would think they would all live in the general Chicago area, together, but that's not the case. They all live in a faction; there are five factions. Dauntless, (the brave) Erudite, (the smart) Abnegation, (the selfless) Candor, (the honest) and Amity, (the peaceful.) Though, you don't exactly get to choose where you live, where you live is based on test results. In our society today you can choose where ever you would like to live, and you aren't limited to only five different places, where you will have to live your whole life. Because of this test, the one choice you make decides your friends, determines your loyalties, and defines your beliefs. In our society today, the many choices you make throughout life can define you, and you are allowed to make more than one choice to help create your image. Also, most of things you can do today, are limited to you based on your faction in the story. For instance, today you can pretty much get any job, as long as you are willing to work, and are qualified for that job, while in the story, the jobs you can get depend on which faction you choose. You can't work helping the homeless in Abnegation, if your faction is Dauntless. Also, some factions limit the things you can say, and how you can act. For instance, in Abnegation, you are not allowed to ask questions openly if you are considered a child or under aged. In our society today, you can ask anyone a question if you please, but they don't have to respond if they don't want to! Also in Abnegation, you are only allowed to look at yourself in the mirror once a month because it's considered as you being self centered. Today, you can look in a mirror whenever you'd like, and nobody would judge you (unless they wanted to!) So, as you can see there are a lot of differences between the society today, and the society in the book, and that's not even all of the differences! I could go on for a while!

      Not only are there differences between the two societies, but there are also similarities (though not as many!) For one, to be able to live on your own, and be considered an adult, you have to 18. Same thing in the story. To be able to take the aptitude test, and choose your own faction, and get a job, you need to be 18, just like in today's society. Also, just like you would have to go through initiation to get a job, or go through training to get a job today, you have to do the same when you switch factions, to be able to learn the ropes. Another similarity is where you live or what faction you choose, says something about you. Today, things like that also say something about you, whether it's what college you choose to go to, or what state you choose to live in, or even what neighborhood you choose to live in. These things all say something about you, and your personality. If you choose to live in California, that might say that you like the warm whether all year round. Or, you like the beaches. Or, maybe if you chose to live in Berwyn, it's because you think there are better housing options, or better schools for your kids. Just like the people in the story choose factions for the reasons they think are best, and that kind of show what they are like! One more similarity between the society today, and the society in the book are there are laws and rules, just like we have in society today. Now, you're probably thinking, that that's obvious, every society has rules in some way, shape, or form, but I don't think that's the case. Author's can write anything that they want in books, and if they didn't want there to be any rules, then they wouldn't have to write about that! So, those are some similarities and differences between society today, and the society in the book!