Saturday, April 13, 2013

Chapter 2

Chapter 2: 

Testing Time! Who doesn't love a test that decides your fate? Not Beatrice! She is so terrified that she's shaking and wants to throw up, I know I would.

"My stomach wrenches. I close my eyes and keep them closed until ten minutes later, when Caleb sits down again."

A Dauntless women, Tori, administers the test to Beatrice in a strange room covered with mirrors. The test includes drinking something and being sucked into a simulation. Once in the simulation, Beatrice is forced to choose between a sword and cheese. Why cheese? Beatrice refuses to choose... and immediately regrets her decision. In walks a huge dog (too late to choose the sword) who apparently looks hungry (which explains the cheese). Frantically, Beatrice searches for some way to avoid getting mauled by the dog (how horrible would that be?).

"My Biology textbook said that dogs can smell fear because of a chemical secreted by human glands in a state of duress, the same chemical a dog's prey secretes...If staring into its eyes was a sign of agression, what's a sign of submission?"

She lays down in front of the dog and closes her eyes. The next thing she knows, the dog is licking her face. Good thing she didn't choose the sword. Untill a little girl runs in. Beatrice has to tackle the dog so it doesn't attack the little girl.

"I don't think, I just jump; I hurl my body on top of the dog, wrapping my arms around its thick neck."

Then the dog and the girl are gone. She is on a train and she sees a man with a news paper. Somehow she recognizes the man on the front page... who is a murderer. The the man holding the paper (who is really creepy looking) asks her if she knows who he is. She lies and says no. The man stands up and acusses her of lying.

"'If you know him,' he says in a low voice, 'you could save me. You could save me!'"

And again she tells him no.

Chapter 1

Chapter 1:


Beatrice Prior is an ordinary 16 year old girl living the ordinary life of a teenager; waking up, going to school, and hardest of all, being as selfless as possible. She belongs to Abnegation, 1 of the 5 factions that separates the dystopian Chicago.

Beatrice starts one of the most important days of her life by getting a haircut. This is one of the few times that she can steal a glance at herself (I would be wondering what I looked like all the time!), because looking in the mirror is a sign of vanity and selfishness (How is vanity selfishness?). But of course, Beatrice struggles with loosing herself in the ways of Abnegation, she is not patient and is too curious (I don't think I could stand not asking questions), but most of all, she is utterly absorbed and fascinated by the ways of the other factions, especially the Dauntless. If it weren't for her family, she would be utterly miserable in Abnegation. This day is not only the day she can see if she has changed physically, but it is the day that may decide her future, it is testing day (Yikes!).

"Today is the day of the aptitude testing that will show me which of the five factions I belong in."

As usual, she rides to school on the bus with her brother, Caleb, receives a few snide comments on being a "Stiff" (I would want nothing more than to say something right back, but of course she can't, it is against Abnegation beliefs), and watches with fascination as the Dauntless arrive...by jumping off a train (What an adrenaline rush...though I would probably chicken out!). 

Beatrice wants to be with her family, but she knows that she could be happier somewhere else, somewhere she can discover who she truly is and doesn't have to worry about trying to be someone she isn't. How could anyone make such a difficult decision, you shouldn't have to choose between family and being yourself!

"And tomorrow, at the Choosing Ceremony, I will decide on a faction; I will decide the rest of my life; I will decide to stay with my family or abandon them."