Summary

Chapter 5 still shares the past as Emmeline recalls that the intake officer at the reproductive testing center spoke with the chaperon about how strange it was that Emmeline didn’t have a folder. They described Father’s job and declared Mother antagonistic. The officer wrote with a pencil and paper, which was prohibited years ago by the Authority.

The conflict of not many girls being fertile anymore came up, along with the mention of special medicine being used in the Children’s Village to promote fertility. Emmeline underwent her tests. Emmeline panicked once they referred to her as ripe and reproductive, and the chapter ends with her feeling confused and refusing to show allegiance to the Republic by make the circle sign as a pledge of commitment. She does this because she refused to think that she was anything like the intake officer...