There are several points in Divergent when the protagonist, Beatrice Prior, looks at herself in the mirror (in fact, the novel begins with a mirror). Mirrors represent how Beatrice examines herself constantly: probing her mind for weaknesses in order to figure out what kind of person she is. The constant presence of mirrors in the novel reminds us that Beatrice is maturing quickly, to the point where she’s often a stranger to herself.
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Mirror Symbol Timeline in Divergent
The timeline below shows where the symbol Mirror appears in Divergent. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
An unnamed narrator describes a mirror, which her “faction” allows her to look at every three months, while the narrator’s mother...
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Chapter 3
Beatrice wakes up in a room lined with mirrors, and finds Tori standing over her. Tori says, “That was perplexing,” and leaves. Beatrice wonders...
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Chapter 11
...along with her peers. Inside, Tris catches a glimpse of her own appearance in a mirror: she has a black eye and a bruised jaw. Tris can barely believe this ugly...
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Chapter 20
...floor, next to the chasm over the water. Tris sees her peers, and notices a mirror in the distance. Suddenly, Four appears, smiling. Tris feels her legs locking into the ground,...
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Chapter 30
...finds herself back in the Abnegation headquarters. She notices that the room is lined with mirrors. A man whose face is covered with scars walks closer and closer to Tris. Tris...
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