Contents
Chapter 33: Tris
Overview
Tris earns cautious respect among the Foxes and undertakes a test to infiltrate Erudite headquarters. There, she reunites with Caleb, reveals she is factionless, and delivers their mother’s cryptic research request. Caleb hints at troubling reevaluations of their past. An Erudite officer compels Tris to meet Jeanine Matthews immediately, escalating the stakes.
Summary
At a Foxes meeting, Tris faces mockery but shows skill and composure. Sly assigns recruits to infiltrate faction headquarters undetected for an hour. Choosing Erudite to contact Caleb as her mother requested, Tris openly changes clothes, revealing her burn scar and adopting subtle Erudite mannerisms, earning a small measure of respect.
Tris enters Erudite headquarters, striving to blend in. In the dining hall, a supervisor identifies her as underage and dismisses her from the line, threatening her cover. As Tris retreats, Caleb recognizes her and hastily escorts her to a quieter corridor beneath a portrait of Jeanine Matthews.
Tris admits she left Abnegation and is now factionless. Caleb expresses disappointment and claims Erudite has shown him the harm of their upbringing, which Tris challenges as indoctrination. She informs Caleb of the Candor headquarters fire and questions Erudite’s selective reporting. Tris then delivers their mother’s message: investigate aptitude test results versus faction transfers for patterns.
Caleb wonders if their mother is not as she seemed, recalling her subtle influence over community leaders. Before they can discuss further, an Erudite officer arrives, addresses Tris by name, and insists Jeanine Matthews wants to see her immediately. The man ushers Tris into an elevator as Caleb stands by without intervening, leaving Tris facing a perilous summons.
Who Appears
- Tris (Beatrice Prior)New Fox recruit; chooses to infiltrate Erudite, reunites with Caleb, delivers mother’s message, and is summoned by Jeanine.
- Caleb PriorErudite initiate; reunited with Tris, defends Erudite views, questions their mother, receives her research request.
- SlyFoxes’ leader; assigns the infiltration test and evaluates recruits’ transformations.
- ChristinaFellow Fox recruit; passes as Abnegation and supports Tris during testing.
- GretchenFox member who previously vetted Tris; present during recruitment dynamics.
- RoryFox recruit beside Tris; encourages and reacts during transformations.
- BootsFox who coined Tris’s nickname; taunts her during the test.
- The MenderRespected Fox ally; silently witnesses Tris’s burn scar, prompting group’s hush.
- Jeanine MatthewsErudite leader; requests an immediate meeting with Tris, heightening tension.
- Erudite officerUnnamed official who compels Tris to meet Jeanine and escorts her to the elevator.