Tally's Imperative Conflict In Uglies By Scott Westerfeld

There are several instances of imperative conflict in the book, Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. Shay confronts Tally about David’s apparent favoritism of Tally after becoming upset. “Shay chewed her fingernail, shaking her head. ‘He doesn’t talk to me that much anymore. Not since you showed up. Not about anything important. He’s got stuff on his mind, he says.’” (Westerfeld 228) Tally is unaware of Shay’s feelings for David and as she becomes closer to him, Shay becomes infuriated. In the Smoke, giving gifts is rare and highly thought out due to a lack of resources, so when David gives Tally a pair of his childhood gloves, Shay is extremely hurt. As Tally and Shay converse about the gift, Tally realizes that Shay has become mad at her due to the jealousy that Shay

“Tally felt the weight of a mountain pressing down upon her, and found she was struggling to breathe as she pulled herself into the sunlight” (Westerfeld 209) Before Tally leaves for Smoke, Dr. Cable gives Tally the option to either betray Smoke and release them to the authorities and then get the surgery and become pretty or stay ugly for the rest of her life. As Tally traverses through the Rusties to reach Smoke, she questions whether she really wants to do this. The decision becomes more present and weightful as she begins to like the Smokies and the way of life outside of the city. Shay becomes infuriated with Tally and accuses her of being a spy and alerting the Special Circumstances. “‘You did this!’ her whole body withered like a snake its death throes. ‘Stealing my boyfriend wasn’t enough? You had to betray the whole Smoke!’” (Westerfeld 287) Tally finally realizes she wants to stay in the Smoke and she destroys the pendant as a symbol of her freedom, but the next morning the Special Circumstances arrive she is appalled. As the agents bring her to the rabbit pen, she begins to resist and fight against