Four By Veronica Roth: Character Analysis

“Do not let the shadows of your past darken your future. Forgive and forget.” These wise words apply to many people around the world who don’t want their past to become their future. Only you can pick what you will let affect you, don’t let the dark times determine your bright future. Tobias Eaton, known as Four, is the protagonist in Veronica Roth’s novel Four who has a dark past, but refuses for that to be his future. After reading this book, it is clear that one of the messages the author wanted to convey is that your past doesn’t create your future. This theme is shown through scenes involving Four’s choosing day, initiation, and career as an initiation instructor. During one of the conflicts, the way Tobias reacts demonstrates the theme that your past doesn’t create your future. Tobias
just finished through where he chose Dauntless as his new faction. In one scene, Tobias jumped into the train that would take them to the dauntless entrance when Amar, a dauntless member, asked Tobias his name, he deflects the question by saying, “You can call me ‘stiff’ for all I care” (Roth 36). When Tobias responded this way to Amar this shows that he doesn’t want to be associated with his past. If Tobias had answered, all of Dauntless would know he was the son of Marcus Eaton, the Abnegation leader. Another event in Four by Veronica Roth shows the theme that your past doesn’t create your future is when Tobias, now called ‘Four’ follows through on his dare. Tobias has joined in on a game of Dare with Dauntless members, now it is his turn to complete a dare. In this scene, Tobias is dared to get a tattoo, he picks his ribcage, one of the most painful places to get a tattoo and the worst memories of pain from his past (Roth 75-76). Four’s decision shows he wants to remember his past, but not let that affect his future. If he would not have completed the dare, he would not be respected by his dauntless community which would impact his future. One of the most important events that shows the theme of how your past doesn’t create your future is when Four fights Eric.
Four has become more accustomed to the life of dauntless, but still has doubts since his past didn’t shape him for this life. In one scene, Four is fighting Eric, and losing, until Eric mentions that he knows Four’s real name, that was the turning point of the fight which led Four to victory (Roth 80). This scene shows how your past can’t affect your future if you don’t let it. If Eric would have won the fight, everyone would have known who Four was, which would’ve wrecked his future. Throughout the novel Four an important theme is frequently conveyed: your past doesn’t create your future. Veronica Roth helps the reader see this message through scenes where Four sees the impact his past is having on him. He learns what his life could be like and has to decide what he will do. As a reader, it’s frustrating when Four lets his past affect his decisions because he is letting his past create his life. The novel Four is a fast-paced, emotional book that should be read by everyone to better understand that your past doesn’t affect your future unless you let
it.