The Selfishness Of the Non-Selfless People

Jada Joseph

809

               

                I just finished the book, Divergent, by Veronica Roth, and the ending of the book really surprised me. Janice, a woman from the Erudite faction, is the leader of a disaster plan to completely try to wipe out the Abnegation faction. She is doing this because Abnegation poeple are the only people allowed to rule in the governemnt, that being because their faction values selflessness so while leading the government they think about what is best for the people instead of being selfish and only thinking about themselves. Janice thinks that the smartest people should lead the government because they are the people who know exactly what to do. Janice did not take on this project alone. Eric, one of the many leaders of the Dauntless faction, was also apart of her plan. Janice thought that if she got Eric to side with her, he would help wipe out the Abnegation people. Wipe out meaning clear them of the 5 factions making there only be 4. In a much simpler tense, he would help her by making the people of the Dauntless kill the Abnegation people.
                   
                  I think that Janice is very selfish because she does not honestly want to lead the government. No, I think that she just wants to be in control of everything. She is probably in control of her life now and she wants more. She wants power and she thinks that leading the government will give that to her. She is really only thinking about herself, especially when it regards Eric. Janice is using Eric to her abilities and I bet that in the next book, she might drop him like a hot tamale. That is an act of selfishness which is something that would be frowned upon in the Abnegation faction.

                  I'm not being a hypocrite by taking about Janice's selfishness. I am selfish too sometimes but Janice's selfishness resulted in her trying to take over her world. With my selfishness, I can't name a time when I was selfish and it affected a group of people in a bad way. I might be selfish and make myself something without asking my mom if she wants anything but those are minor things. Like when people tell little white lies. Selfishness is not something you are born with, its not a gene that has already developed inside you. Selfishness is something people develop by being around the wrong people. in a prior assembly, guest starring the coach of the Brooklyn Nets basketball team Avery Johnson, Mr. Johnson continuously said say yes to practice and adults but say no to the wrong people. Selfishness is a characteristic of  the wrong people. Of course, no one can be perfect. You might never believe that you are but everyone is selfish in some way or another at some point of your life. I just have a problem with Janice's great deal of selfishness that comes with all the idea of her attacking them.