Marxist Themes and Class Conflict in Divergent

Marxist Theory and the Faction System

One of the central themes present in the film Divergent can be identified through a Marxist theoretical lens. Marx's belief was that there is a dialectical relationship between the owners of capital and the laboring masses. His theory postulated that the owners of capital would continually increase their power through the accumulation of capital, which also gave them greater power over society — until the relationship between capital (the means of production) and labor became so unbalanced that workers would have virtually no choice but to eventually revolt and disrupt the system. Marx based his theory on the historical analysis of many different societies that had followed such a trend, and several examples can be seen throughout world history. The dialectical relationship was fundamentally a relationship of power between different classes.

The powerful members of society would continue to consolidate their power until the laboring class had a comparatively meager existence. The laborers would eventually realize that they held power in numbers and would overthrow the existing power structures in hopes of creating something fairer, based on their class interests. Marx's theory held that this was a natural cycle, and that societies would continually be in one stage or another. However, Marx also believed that some form of evolution would allow societies to avoid repeating this cycle indefinitely — and, in his view, the next stage would be communism. Although communism has not succeeded in many attempts thus far, in theory it at least represents a more egalitarian and fair way to distribute resources equally within a society and eliminate social classes altogether.

The film Divergent takes place in Chicago sometime in the future. Tris, one of the main characters, must decide which faction to join — a custom required when individuals reach the age of sixteen. Those who are unable to join a faction are the equivalent of contemporary homeless individuals. In the film, the Abnegation faction currently controls the government. This faction is essentially selfless and would represent something that Marx might find more ideal than a society with severe power imbalances. Individuals who are less self-interested are arguably more capable of performing government functions equitably.

However, other factions — such as the Erudite — seek to seize power from the government leaders. Each faction holds its own distinct power, but these powers are neither equivalent nor equal; each faction makes different contributions to society and operates under a different ideology. The power struggle between these factions mirrors power struggles that have occurred in many societies throughout history, resembling the types of class conflicts on which Marx based his theories. There have been many such struggles between competing class interests throughout history, and the role of military force has frequently been central to them.

Class Conflict and Social Mobility in Divergent

Another prominent theme in the film is class conflict, which is closely related to the Marxist perspective. The classes in the movie can be understood in terms of the factions; however, there are also distinct classes within the factions themselves. One of the film's most telling lines functions almost as a social status manifesto: "the future belongs to those who know where they belong" (Farley, 2014). This class conflict is amplified by the factions and by each individual's total dedication to their chosen faction.

Membership in a faction defines the individual and their entire ideology or worldview. Once a person enters a faction, they are essentially locked into that membership and its accompanying belief system. Members are expected to marry within the same faction, and there is virtually no social mobility available. Once a faction is chosen and the individual is accepted, they are bound to that class — much like the rigid class structures found in historical societies such as the caste system.

Contemporary Parallels: Economic Inequality in the U.S.

In the United States today, society is becoming increasingly polarized on many levels. Economic inequality is one prominent example. Bernie Sanders, a presidential candidate from the Democratic Party, has been among the most vocal politicians to address these issues. He identifies as a democratic socialist — a position that shares several characteristics with the goals found in communist systems, though the two are distinct. There has been significant debate about whether Sanders is a socialist or a democratic socialist, and why that distinction matters.

"When Bernie is asked, 'Are you a socialist?' he doesn't deny it, and he immediately talks about Scandinavia. He uses them interchangeably. But if you look at his history, he knows the distinction," said Schwartz, vice-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America, in an interview (Qui, 2015).

The kinds of issues Sanders has raised in today's political arena are similar to the themes — though greatly exaggerated — present in Divergent. Presidential candidates, particularly Sanders, have consistently pointed out that inequality has grown over the last several generations and that the top one percent — or even a fraction of one percent — have captured the majority of wealth generated by economic growth. This class is not bound by blood but rather by its economic position and shared ideology within society. The factions in the film represent an exaggerated form of such class division. Just as Divergent features a governing faction, a knowledge faction, and others, contemporary American society has its own analogues: a wealthy elite, a military class, a political class, and a technological class, among others.

The movie and its source novel are undoubtedly designed to highlight the potential futures of current social problems. As one critic observed: "'Divergent' accomplishes what an effective dystopia should do: it shows the spiritual, social, and political problems in modern society. It takes place in the future, but it sure seems like a movie about our times" (Zukowski, 2014). It is reasonable to conclude that the writers were intentionally exaggerating the flaws of contemporary society so that younger generations could better understand the issues at play. Portrayals of future dystopias are not only entertaining — they can also be educational, illuminating problems that are already present but unfolding at an earlier stage.

Conclusion

The film Divergent, viewed through a Marxist lens, reveals enduring themes of class conflict, power consolidation, and social stratification. Its faction system functions as an exaggerated mirror of real-world class divisions, from economic inequality and the concentration of wealth among the elite, to the institutional power of military and surveillance organizations. By connecting these fictional elements to contemporary political discourse and social realities, it becomes clear that dystopian fiction serves an important critical function — translating complex social and economic tensions into narratives accessible to younger audiences and encouraging them to examine the world they are already living in.

References

Farley, C. (2014, March 21). 'Divergent' and the class struggle in the classroom library. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2014/03/21/divergent-and-the-class-struggle-in-the-classroom-library/

Qui, L. (2015, August 26). Bernie Sanders — socialist or democratic socialist? PolitiFact. Retrieved from http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2015/aug/26/bernie-sanders-socialist-or-democratic-socialist/

Zukowski, J. (2014, March 25). The future is now: The dystopia of 'Divergent' looks like a journey through contemporary America. Spiritual Pop Culture. Retrieved from http://spiritualpopculture.com/divergent/