The Dauntless Dream

Every bookworm’s dream is to have the opportunity to become a character from their favourite novel, I am no exception. If given the chance to become any character my heart desired, I would trade places with Tris Prior, formerly known as Beatrice, from the Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth. The chance to live the life of a dauntless would be breathtaking for me, with all the bravery involved, and the skill. She is more than just that though, as a Divergent, she is selfless, brave, and curious; all human skills that I dream of possessing.

For as long as I can remember, taking risks was something I adored doing. The adrenaline that would flow through my veins as I performed tasks that seemed rather dangerous, or out of my comfort zone, was a feeling that made me feel alive. Living the life of a Dauntless which, by definition means fearless or bold, would be a lifestyle to satisfy this aspect of myself. As someone who fears many things that are common in everyday life, for instance, heights, crowded places, dolls, loud noises, and occasionally clowns, possessing the abilities to face all of this would be fascinating. My biggest regret in my life so far, is not confronting the fears that have held me back my entire life. Being Tris would make all of this go away. I could climb ferris wheels and not look back; and dare to be whoever I want, how ever I wanted, without the judgement of others. There is no more of a perfect world than the ones we read in books. Time is an endless cycle, and the fears of wasting it do not exist. Not only would I be brave to it’s greatest extent, but I could help people in a way that does not require several degrees in medical science, or correctional courses, in a way that only requires two hands and a voice.

Defending the rights of others is something I have been extremely passionate about for as long as I could remember. As a dauntless, no one ever questions your judgement or your right to speak your mind, there are no rules except, do not be a coward. You are the law, and whether you use that power or abuse it, really depends on your intentions. To have that influence over the thoughts of others would be a dangerous power to hold, nevertheless, if it is put into the right hands, great things could happen. There are some negative aspects that could come along with this kind of society, but just the entire lifestyle of fighting for the people appeals to me on so many levels. Manifestos are a large part of the Divergent trilogy, and the Dauntless’ beliefs are some that I encourage daily: “We believe: that sometimes it is necessary to fight for peace; that justice is more important than peace; in denying fear the power to influence our decisions; in shouting for those who can only whisper, in defending those who cannot defend themselves; in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.” (From the Dauntless Manifesto). For me, the most important of these is the final two statements. All my life I have been brought up to defend those who cannot defend themselves, and to stand up for others, as well as what I believe in. The life that Tris of Divergent lives may not be the most desirable life, but it is an eventful one, with moments that hold so much bravery that I cannot help but desire it.

The experiences that Tris Prior gets to live through are timeless. Before the bad comes in, her life is one filled with the excitement of simply living. That is something that I dream of understanding, to enjoy the way you spend your time solely because there is a beat in your chest, and air in your lungs. My greatest fear is that when I am old and grey, I will look back on my life with nothing but disappointment of the things I did not do. Tris Prior would not do that. I want to face my fears, and not only speak up for what I believe in, but shout to the highest mountains when things are not right. Beatrice was a girl much like myself, afraid with that feeling of not belonging. She could barely look in a mirror without seeing the things she disliked of herself. Although, Tris is nothing like that. She is fearless, nonchalant, nothing can bring her down, and most importantly, she is brave. Tris kicked Beatrice Prior out the window, and that is what I hope to do with my current self. Being able to conquer my own demons is the first step I will have to take to be anything like what the woman she is, but it is something I would love to do. The novel Divergent is my favourite trilogy, I could read it countless times and remain just as in love as I was the first time my eyes scanned the pages. Still, to this day, three reads of the trilogy later, I yearn to live as courageously as they do.

I have dreamt many nights of the life of a Dauntless, and if I had the opportunity there is no doubt in my mind that I would take it. The bravery and adrenaline that it all takes is something I thirst for. As well, all of the characteristics, that are far from the kind of person I am today, are something that makes me wonder how the life of a Dauntless would be. Everything that this trilogy possesses has a component of my dream lifestyle. If I was given the choice, I would definitely trade with “Tris” from Divergent.