Having read Divergent and Insurgent two years ago and recently reading Allegiant in November, it was nice to once again emerge myself into the Divergent world. Four is a series of short stories told from the perspective of Tobias (Four).
As much as I disliked Four's perspective in Allegiant, I loved finding out more about the personality behind the character Tobias in Four. It was able to give me a new understanding of him and show me his motives behind what he says and does in Divergent. In Four we really get backstage in the events occurring in Divergent. We were able to see how this dystopian world has been falling apart for years and not just when Divergent takes place.
The first story: The Transfer, shows Tobias as he chooses Dauntless and his motives behind why.
The second one is called: The Initiate, this one shows us the initiation program Four had to go through in order to achieve Dauntless statues. In this story it was interesting to compare Tobias's and Tris's initiation. In Divergent we hear Tobias say that the Dauntless Initiations were never like this, and in this story we are able to see why.
The third story in this collection is: The Son. In this story we get a turn of events. We begin to see the influence the Erudite are bestowing onto Dauntless and their ruthless plan on Abnegation. We see the reason why Tobias turned down the position of a Dauntless leader even if he was number one in his class. Truths become lies as we discover the Abnegation are not all that innocent, and has their secrets to. The truth reveled in this story that will set up the plot for Divergent.
Then the final story: The Traitor. This is actually a selection from Divergent beginning at Visiting Day. We see it in the perspective of Tobias and it's interesting to see the same story but in two different views. In Divergent we see how Tris thought in these events. Now we get to see what Tobias saw and thought of these same events. We were able to relies why he acted like he did and why he said the things he did.
WARNING IF YOU HAVE NOT READ ALLEGIANT SKIP TO THE END!!!!!!
It was also bittersweet to see Tris still alive and breathing and I had to continue to remind my self the ending to Allegiant actually happened.
Which quickly I am going to shed some light on.
Tris is considered a tragic hero. And she much reminds me of John Proctor from The Crucible. Now before you call me crazy let me explain. In Divergent Tris asks herself if she can be forgiven. Then in Allegiant one of her last thoughts are: I think I can.
I feel this was a way she found redemption and her Abnegation self comes back as she takes the place of her brother.
Tris feels that giving herself up is the best way and in that, she feels she will earn herself freedom and forgiveness.
In The Crucible John Procter has a guilty conscience of committing adultery and through out the play is unable to forgive himself. When he is accused of witchcraft he is scheduled to hang. Though if he states a false confession he will be freed. By now everyone knows he is innocent but due to the amounts of victims before hand it is fitting to carry on. He feels that going through with the hanging is a way for him to feel he can finally forgive himself for all the wrong he has done. He will go like all the good people who had gone before him. One line in the play is by Elisabeth Proctor (who is his wife) who states, "He has his goodness now."
Now back to Allegiant. As I stated before, I feel this gave Tris a window to forgive herself and sacrifice herself like how her family gave their lives for her. She too would fall do to the corruption of this series world. And doing so she earned her goodness for she felt she could redeem herself and die for something she believes in like all the people before her did. It was the only way she truly thought she could be forgiven.
I would give Four a 4/5 stars. It was a great way to see this world in a different light and I especially enjoyed the three bonus scenes. This story is a must add item to your Divergent Series collection, where it can proudly find a home on your shelf next to other wonderful masterpieces of literature.
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