The Elite

After chapters of quiet action, this section contains the most fraught moments of the dramatic arc, including the climax, turning point, and resolution. The book concludes with America finally making the decision that has challenged her throughout the novel, highlighting the themes of Choice Among Competing Affections and Rebellion Against Expectations and Authority. This decision is not only about choosing between Aspen and Maxon but also about choosing the kind of person she wants to become, reflecting her growth and evolution as a character. The stakes are high, and the culmination of internal and external conflicts drives the plot toward its dramatic conclusion.

Both the external conflict, in terms of the rebel threats, and the internal conflict, caused by the confusion of her feelings about the two men she loves, are forced to a breaking point. The rebel attacks intensify in violence, resulting in greater destruction to the palace and the warning of “we’re coming,” furthering the cracks that have been growing in the façade of a peaceful Illéa. These attacks serve as a metaphor for the growing unrest and dissatisfaction with the caste system, signaling the imminent upheaval that will challenge the established social order. The attack on Natalie’s sister is a blow aimed at the royal family and the Selection itself, a foreshadowing of events in the next book in the Selection series. But these external conflicts clarify, for America, the characters of the two men she loves, allowing her to make a confident choice at last.

Mirroring the threats of the rebels, America stages her own form of rebellion against the status quo when she uses her public moment on the Report to call for an end to the caste system. Her choice to make this bold proposal illustrates her willingness to challenge the established norms and positions her as a revolutionary figure within the story, a protagonist who is unafraid to disrupt the system, highlighting Rebellion Against Expectations and Authority. Her motives for this presentation draw on two of the major themes. She wishes, in part, to highlight The Need to Protect the Vulnerable, personified for her by her maids, who all, in different ways, express dissatisfaction with the caste they’ve been pressed into. Marlee, now an Eight, also represents the powerless, and America’s concerns about letting Silvia down likewise show her awareness of the situations of other people. This points to an increasing sense of responsibility towards others—a quality that will make her a strong princess. By advocating for the abolition of the caste system, America demonstrates a visionary quality that surpasses the other girls, showing her potential as a transformative leader.

America is also motivated by a growing passion for justice, which further marks her suitability to be the princess. From the beginning, Celeste’s plotting has illustrated to America the ambition, ruthlessness, and manipulation of the upper castes, as well as their sense of entitlement. Celeste’s behavior, in stark contrast to America’s values, underscores the tension between genuine empathy and the selfish pursuit of power, highlighting the moral differences that set America apart. When she learns from Gregory’s diaries that this caste system was never justified or necessary but was a power ploy designed by him to dispense rewards and punishments along his personal preference, America can no longer accept things as they are. She understands that the caste system is based on a kind of tyranny that is also illustrated by King Clarkson, who is willing to hurt his own son to preserve the aims of his ambition. America’s idea, true to her impulsive nature, is to tear it all down, a revolutionary proposal. This act of rebellion is a defining moment for her character, marking a shift from passive participant to active agent of change, and foreshadows her future role as a leader who will challenge the status quo.

The theme of Choice Among Competing Affections play out in the pairs of Maxon and Kriss and America and Aspen; Maxon has been hedging his bets just as America has. The love triangle reaches its peak tension here, as both Maxon and America have been exploring alternate options, reflecting their mutual fear of vulnerability and commitment. But instead of basing her decision on the security either man can offer, America bases her decision on each man’s character. When she learns about the ongoing abuse that Maxon endures, the ways he is trying to promote change—sharing her passion for justice—she feels closer to him, a closeness reknit by his declarations of affection. This newfound understanding and intimacy between America and Maxon is symbolic of the trust and partnership that a future marriage would require, signaling a maturation in their relationship dynamic. This greater understanding of his character shows his contrast to Aspen, who is more focused on what he personally wants. While Aspen is also focused on winning America, he doesn’t share her view of the larger picture, and this creates a new distance between them. The divergence in their priorities highlights a key thematic element: Aspen represents the past and a more limited, personal outlook, whereas Maxon embodies the potential for a broader, more inclusive vision of the future. Moreover, Aspen’s pressure on her, and swiftness to make decisions for her, contrasts with the time and space Maxon has given America to choose. She feels that Maxon is more able to give her what she needs, and that guides her final choice.

The presentation of their service proposals reflects the character of each of the remaining Elite, as well as their function for Maxon, and that helps illustrate America’s place as his logical choice. Elise, Natalie, and Celeste are ineffectual, ill-informed, and self-serving. Kriss means well but cannot see outside the system. Kriss’s focus on the existing school system, while well-intentioned, signals her alignment with the status quo, contrasting sharply with America’s radical call for the elimination of the caste system. This highlights the tension between incremental change and revolutionary action. America has the vision to match Maxon’s ambitions and support his reforms, and, during the night in the safe room, she is restored to her status as his mentor and ally, a position she cultivated when she first arrived in the Selection in book one of the series. The safe room itself becomes a symbolic space, representing a temporary haven where they can be honest and vulnerable with one another, away from the prying eyes and expectations of the palace. This shows that while America is still being her essential self, she is also growing in self-awareness. She realizes what else she needs to give Maxon for a truly mutual relationship—her trust and faith in him—which spurs the final character growth that surfaces in book 3 of the series, The One. At the same time, the ending of this novel establishes the next external threat in the form of King Clarkson and the barrier he will present to Maxon and America’s union, providing a cliffhanger ending designed to lead the reader to the next book. This unresolved tension sets the stage for the ultimate conflict between love, power, and justice, which will be further explored and resolved in the final installment of the trilogy.