Archetypes- Divergent

            What is an archetype? Archetype comes from the Latin stem that means original, and Greek stem that means pattern. It means, “the original pattern or model from which all things of the same kind are copied or on which they are based; a model or first form.” In ELA it means “a character, symbol, theme, or setting.” How can the archetypes help us? Why are they useful? By developing an understanding of archetypes we are able to recognize them through our texts. For me, it helps me break down a complicated character. For others, it may to the exact opposite. Nonetheless, archetypes are an important aspect to literature. 

Throughout the novel, “Divergent,” you see multiple examples of archetypes. For example, Tris is a heroic yet stubborn character. She hates when people under mind her because she is a smaller girl. She does what she knows is right, even if it could possibly cost her life. This makes Tris a warrior. The definition of a warrior is someone who “faces physical challenges.” However there are more layers to her then that. Sometimes she may go on suicide missions or she may be cruel to those attempting to help her. But the archetype begins to simplify her.

In, “Divergent,” Tris’s journey demonstrates all the trials Tris goes through that shape her as a person. Her journey can be an archetype as well. In the first two the Divergent books, the journey is filed under “The Quest.” However once the reader begins the third book he/she begins to discover the journey becomes less and less like a quest and more and more like an Initiation. I will break this down to help you understand. The quest is defined as “what hero must accomplish to restore peace, order, and normalcy to a troubled land. Initiation is defined as when the “The hero crosses a threshold into a new, more dangerous world gaining a mature perspective.” The Factions were simply fine until Jeanine began killing off the divergent, which had perfect genes, and nearly killed hundreds of innocent people. But Tris attempts to prevent that from happening. Through this process, in the third book she flees her former to discover a new, turning the book into an initiation.

See how important archetypes are? They can be some helpful in so many different ways. They help answer some questions and bring in some more. Therefore, archetypes are not only useful, but also crucial.