The Elite

As the device underlying the Selection, the theme of making a choice drives the premise of the book and raises several implications around the importance of making a wise choice. For Prince Maxon, the Selection, much like an elimination dating program, assembles diverse candidates so he might choose a wife from among them. The consequences of his choice are not only personal but also national, raising the stakes to select a suitable candidate. Amplifying the themes of choice and its consequences is the premise that, in her own version of the Selection, America also must decide who will be the object of their affections. She and Maxon feel competing attachments to other people, which allows exploration of the confusion and painful repercussions when the right choice isn’t clear. America’s struggle is not only romantic but symbolic of her broader conflict between the familiar safety of her past with Aspen and the uncertain but promising future with Maxon, representing a choice between two versions of her life.

Maxon and America’s investment in their relationship progresses in opposite trajectories, making their choices even more difficult. Maxon begins the novel certain that America is his choice, and he is only waiting for her to indicate her readiness in order to publicly commit. He secures the permission of both her father and his, clearing the way to make a choice that will determine his future wife as well as the country’s queen. But America’s doubt, resistance, and rejection of him after she believes he participated in Marlee’s public punishment causes Maxon to seek what he calls a backup plan, which is Kriss, who is clear about her affection for and devotion to him. Knowing she has real competition and is no longer Maxon’s clear favorite causes further hurt, jealousy, and conflict for America, which also keeps the plot device of the Selection moving by deferring a final choice. This progression highlights the miscommunication and mistrust that complicates their relationship, as both characters struggle to openly express their true feelings due to their own insecurities and fears of rejection.

America’s confusion results from the affection she feels for both Maxon and Aspen, with her new and growing attachment to Maxon creating opportunities she didn’t expect: She could become princess and, later, queen of Illéa. Her apprehension about the responsibilities of this position is a chief deterrent to being able to sort out her feelings, as she does not feel prepared for this role, though she begins to explore the possibility as the novel unfolds. America’s central conflict comes from the pull she still feels toward Aspen, her first love and the man that, at the before the Selection began, she believed she would marry. Her continued attraction to him makes her unsure of what she feels for Maxon, suggesting that, for America as well as Maxon, the candidates for the affection all offer different and desirable qualities, thus complicating matters. The love triangle motif emphasizes the necessity of personal growth and self-discovery, as America’s choice is also about choosing the kind of person she wants to become, not just who she loves.

When Maxon persuades her of his love and loyalty, she is willing to commit to him, as at the Halloween party and the conclusion, showing her ability to set Aspen aside. But when her faith in Maxon is shaken, America takes reassurance in the comfort and familiarity of Aspen, considering his promises of love and a future together. Whereas she began the book torn with doubt, by the time of her presentation on the Report, America plans to remove herself from the competition and knows that Aspen will be waiting for her on the other side; as she prepares to leave the palace, America tells Aspen that he is “the only thing” she has left (311). This highlights her fear of the unknown and her inclination to fall back on what feels safe, even when it may not be the best choice for her growth.

From another viewpoint, the action of the book is a long arc that eventually brings America and Maxon together, showing that Aspen is America’s Kriss—her backup plan. During their night in the safe room, when America and Maxon discuss their feelings for one another, Maxon says, “At least I can know for certain that, for one brief moment of our time together, you and I felt the same thing” (297). Once she is reassured of Maxon’s preference for her, America swiftly makes the choice to stay, fight, and win the Selection, suggesting that the confusion in her affections has been, to some extent, confusion between whether she wants to return to the familiarity of her known past or take the opportunity to forge a new future. Her trajectory moves from doubt to certainty, and she resolves to confirm Maxon’s faith in her and clear up his doubt as well, confirming the central premise that, in the contest between affections, ultimately one selection must be made. This resolution underscores the broader idea of self-empowerment and the courage to make difficult choices, signifying America’s maturation and readiness to embrace her future.