Jeanine Matthews is a prominent character in Veronica Roth’s dystopian novel series, Divergent. She serves as the primary antagonist in the series and is the leader of the Erudite faction, which values knowledge and intelligence above all else.
As a character, Jeanine is portrayed as highly ambitious and cunning, often using her intellect to manipulate others to achieve her goals. She believes in the superiority of the Erudite faction and is willing to go to extreme lengths to gain power and control over the other factions, particularly the Abnegation faction, which she sees as a threat to her ideology.
Her character exemplifies the theme of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the moral complexities of leadership. Throughout the series, her actions lead to significant conflict and challenge the protagonist, Tris Prior, as well as her allies. Jeanine’s personality and tactics create an intense narrative as she embodies the conflict between knowledge and virtue.