Divergent Movie Analysis

Based solely on the novel of Divergent a movie was made lasting two hours and nine minutes. This isn't a short span of time for a movie yet, could it be pure coincidence that they left out some details. Could it have been some of the effects were to gruesome for a film rated PG-13? Or were these actions of leaving the details out more purposeful? Does it give the movie somewhat of a different meaning than the original script of the book? So it brings into question, who wrote it better the writer of the novel Veronica Roth, or the director of the film Neil Burger?

Veronica Roth made a novel expression a lot of diverse and in depth characters. When you watch the movie a lot of the characters seem to have been cut short in the cinematic picture. This takes a toll on the movie overall because as the characters slowly begin to change their motives and overall meaning of the characters. For example, in the story Peter was more mean, and scarier. Beatrice remarks once, “I dreamt of that Peter tied me up and asked if I was a Divergent. I answered no, and he punched me until I said yes. I woke up with wet cheeks.” (Roth
118) the film watered this down. It made him seem like a jerk, but like he wasn't powerful. Christina and Beatrice even got the chance to shoot him in the game of capture the flag. This made him seem like, he wasn't a huge threat. As if he wasn't able to do serious damage which contrasted from the book. In addition to this, the movie made it look as if he doing this alone. In the novel, two characters became Peters entourage. One of the characters Drew, wasn't even shown in the film and Molly was briefly. Molly’s character also had a change that wasn't written in the book. Toward the end of the movie she was praising Beatrice. Which was something she wouldn't have done in the book. In the book it characterized her as “Peter’s slightly more feminine-looking minion.” (92)

In writing the story Divergent Roth creates a dystopian society where the remainder of the world is set up into five factions. Now, I know what everyone's thinking. “Oh no, not another dystopian society book. Please not another one.” So, real quick, what makes this story so unique? The unpredictability of the background characters maybe, the plot definitely. The plot has been the main tool in getting readers hooked and turning readers into watchers of the film. However, whenever the plot gets changed for the movie version. It turns some happy readers into some unhappy watchers. From the first fifteen minutes of the film there are some hiccups with the plot. In the begin chapters of Roth’s novel they go to a school, and in going to this school the Beatrice explains each faction and how they interact with each other. But, on the big screen each faction is shown by simply telling you. So, the only factions that we really get to see are Dauntless, Abnegation, and toward the end a little of Erudite. Which leaves two unchecked, or unexplored. Also, when Beatrice chooses Dauntless in the film everyone is alright until actual training begins making dauntless seem less reckless than the novel version of events. In the novel a boy doesn't don't make on the train and, some don't make it off. And while jumping off the train from impact a lady from dauntless dies. Beatrice expresses her fear in this passage from the novel. “My stomach sinks and I stare at the railroad tracks. Not everyone made it. And even the Dauntless aren't safe.” (Roth 55)

Furthermore, the overall plot of Divergent was altered by some details the movie, decided it was best to change.
For instance, a main conflict in the story was the faction Erudite was fighting over control with Abnegation. However, this major conflict is shown in two completely different lights from the movie and the book. In the movie, the head of Erudite Jeanine was already taking power over Abnegation. Erudite ran the Choosing Ceremony, and everywhere Beatrice turns Jeanine seems to be checking in on her. Yet, in the novel’s perspective it wasn't until toward the end of the novel when Erudite was launching their plan to take over. In the beginning everything seemed to be controlled by Abnegation. For example, Marcus the head of Abnegation was in charge of the Choosing Ceremony and he even was the one who called out Beatrice and Caleb’s
names.

Although, the film and book have many differences is the a specific place where novel and film both true to each other? The setting is a very important part of the storyline. Both movie and story take place in a universe and time period where they have to stay in the inner city walls and they are divided by their personality choices. If they are smart, brave, selfless, honest, or peaceful. And in this society if you are more than one of these things than you a threat to the system. This central idea is clear in both mediums so, if you were to read it and watch it. Or only do one or the other you would still get the central idea of the story behind this.