Common Themes In The Selection, By Kiera Cass

Have you ever watched The Bachelor? If you are unfamiliar, The Bachelor is one of the top reality shows in America. The nation's beloved show has inspired many other works of art, including The Selection, written by Kiera Cass. The two pieces parallel each other because they both consist of a single man who searches among several women hoping to find "the one." The Selection is a famous, young adult dystopian novel that centers around a young girl named America Singer, who is chosen to compete for the prince’s heart to become the future queen. Throughout The Selection, many different themes can be explored and analyzed; each is interwoven into the story in a subtle yet impactful manner. One of the most significant themes in The Selection

The dictionary definition of love is “A feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend” (“Love Definition & Meaning”). However, Kiera Cass demonstrated how love is not always easy and can sometimes be challenging to grasp and understand. A complex love triangle blooms throughout the book between America, Prince Maxon, and Aspen. In the beginning, America entered the Selection without intending to fall in love with the prince. However, when she finds out Maxon is not as vile and self-centered as she thought, she develops feelings for him. At that moment, America found herself in the center of a love triangle. She struggled to figure out her feelings towards Maxon because she still was not over Aspen, her ex-boyfriend. As the book continued, America and Maxon started to develop a connection on a deeper level, and their love became stronger. She found it difficult to completely disregard the feelings she still retained for her first love, Aspen. However, Aspen was not with her, and Maxon was, which made it easier for her to begin to forget about him. However, she was introduced to her new guard one night during the guards' nightly switch. In a shocking twist, it turned out her new guard was Aspen. Complications then arose for America as she became torn between her former love for Aspen and her growing feelings for Prince Maxon. America decides not to tell Maxon about her past with Aspen or the fact that he was a guard in the castle. This causes internal turmoil in her due to being overwhelmed by guilt. In an intense conversation with Aspen, she had a critical transformation in her idea of love. America says, "No, I'm not choosing him or you. I'm choosing me." America's decision to choose herself demonstrates that she has evolved to a more