Divergent, Blog Option #1

Divergent has recently hit theaters in 2014 and has become a box office hit. Based off the popular book series by Veronica Roth, this movie is based in Chicago post war. The city has based their population into 5 categories, each group having a particular place in society. Tris, the main character, does not have a place in one group of society, but instead possesses characteristics of all groups, labeling her Divergent. 

According the Bechdel Test, Divergent actually passes all 3 requirements:

1) There are more than two women in the movie that have names. (Tris, Christina-friend, and Natalie-mother)

2) They talk to each other.

3) They talk to each other about something other than a man.

The plot of the movie focuses on the journey of Tris to attempt to find her place in society. She knows she does not fit in with the group she grew up with, but upon testing she finds out that she does not only not belong to the group she grew up in, but she tested into all 5 fractions. Classified as Divergent, she is ushered out and must be forced to find her place on her own without being caught. With her original fraction, she is dressed very moderately and conservatively. They reject vanity and do not look in the mirror for long periods of time. Once she choose her new fraction, Dauntless, she dresses in tighter clothing, but is not objectified by the clothing. The intentions of the clothing she wears is not to 'flaunt her assets" but for protection and movement. 

Two other characters that Tris frequently interacts with is her mother, Natalie and her friend and fellow dauntless member Christina. Tris and Natalie have a typical mother daughter relationship, and grow close towards the end of the novel when Tris discovers that her mother Natalie was also a Divergent and was once a member of Dauntless. They have discussions about her choosing her place in society and they impending consequences that she were to face if it was discovered she was Divergent. With her friend Christina, the conversations are usually about their training in Dauntless and the rankings. Both are driven women who are determined to be seen as strong and fearless. Neither of them seem to let men distract them and are not afraid to be independent and show it. 

It would seem that these women all appear to be normal women, facing their struggles together and leaning on each other for support. Their society stresses loyalty to their fraction above blood, leading relationships to be more centered around fractions than finding love or family. Society casts Tri and Natalie as outcasts because they are Divergent and don't technically have a place in society. As far as Bechdel Testing purposes, they all seem to be normal women. 

I was surprised at the outcome in a pleasant way. I think Divergent provides a wonderful example that all young girls can find their place without having to conform to societies standards and that they can be strong, beautiful, and graceful when doing so. I believe that if more movies looked at the Bechdel test during the beginning stages of production, we might have more positive female role models for young girls.