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In the Divergent trilogy and film, factions are societal divisions that classify citizens based on their aptitudes and values.[1] The factions are Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), Erudite (the intelligent), Abnegation (the selfless), and Candor (the honest). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote for the rest of their lives after taking a placement test. The placement test shows you which faction you should be in. You can choose to devote yourself to your faction chosen by the placement test, or you could choose which faction you want to be in, regardless of your placement test results.
Development
In an interview Roth describes the factions to have expanded from her initial conception when doing worldbuilding. She added Candor to fill "a gap in the reasoning behind the world that needed to be filled."[2]
Background
As revealed in Allegiant, the establishment of the faction system was directly caused by an event known as the Purity War. Years before the events of the series started, people thought that human errors were caused by what they thought were damages in their genes and tried to "correct" them. What they produced were instead violence that erupted from these "corrected" people, who were termed the "genetically damaged" (GD). Due to the discrimination they faced from the "genetically pure" (GP), the GD and GP fought the Purity War, which resulted in half of the US population dying. To counteract this, the U.S. government decided to set up several experimental bottle cities run by an organization known as the Bureau of Genetic Welfare. The goal of this project was to produce more GP population, known inside the bottle cities as "Divergents" from the GD subjects; once they were deemed enough, the cities were to be opened for the GP to repopulate the land.
All of the experimental cities were set up in the Midwest, as the cities needed to be located as far away from each other while simultaneously have easy access; the East Coast cities were deemed too close, while the terrain of the West Coast made it hard to navigate. Though Chicago was the most notable of the experimental cities by virtue as the central setting of the series, there were several cities mentioned to be experimented beforehand, including Indianapolis and Milwaukee, both of which were considered "control cities", as neither had the rigid faction system that ultimately caused their failures. Chicago was the first city where the faction system became a part of the social structure, which proved to be groundbreaking enough to be implemented in other experimental cities, including Detroit, Minneapolis, and St. Louis.
Inside the experimental cities, walls were set up so the population could not learn about the situation they were placed in, while security cameras were placed in almost all sectors of the urban areas to monitor them. Due to the long period of isolation, the population gradually forgot about their affliction and reversed the discrimination, so that the now-dominant GD excluded the GP from their social life. Due to the value of the Divergents, however, whenever a conflict threatened the Divergents' lives, an outside person would be sent inside to ensure safe passage of the Divergents from the cities.
Abnegation (The Selfless)
The Abnegation head leader is Marcus Eaton. One of the other leaders is Andrew Prior, the father of Beatrice 'Tris' Prior.
Abnegation value the virtue of selflessness over any other. Abnegation initiates are forced upon attaining membership to reject a life of vanity and self-indulgence, in theory to protect themselves from greed and envy (considered forms of selfishness). Gossiping, using a mirror for long periods of time, and buying luxury items are forbidden. As Abnegation members, the focus of their lives will be in serving others instead of themselves: anything done for self-enjoyment is discouraged. Abnegation are usually very quiet, as they don't like to call attention to themselves and find joy in helping others.
Members are expected to be compliant with the wishes of others at all times, even if the other person is an Abnegation as well. They take the stairs so elevators can be used by others. It is not unnatural for strangers on the streets to find an Abnegation helping them with tasks such as carrying their groceries or providing first aid for injuries. Immoral actions such as the usage of guns for violence are not a trait of Abnegation. The faction mandates that guns only be used for self-defense. As Abnegation are viewed as morally incorruptible, the city's political leaders are almost exclusively drawn from this faction, with the notable exception of Erudite leader Jeanine Matthews who was selected due to her high IQ. Because of their outwardly submissive nature, other factions tend to think of them as weak.
At the end of Divergent, the Erudite, as part of their goal to usurp the Abnegation as leader of the society, commits a large-scale genocide on the Abnegation population through the mind controlled-Dauntless members, which destroys 90% of the population, including all but one council member, and forces the remaining ones to seek refuge in other places. As such, they are considered "dead" with only four factions making up the society of Chicago.
Physical traits
The main goal of Abnegation is to forget oneself and serve others, so they wear all Grey to be less noticeable. Abnegation clothes are also typically very baggy. Gray robes, pants, and T-shirts are common dress. Women typically pin up their hair and men cut their hair short. Abnegation are allowed to cut their hair every three months, and every six months they pick up a stack of new but nearly identical clothes. The only adornment they are allowed is a simple gray watch, 'And only because it's practical,' as Beatrice 'Tris' Prior says during one of the first chapters of Divergent. They greet each other by bowing their heads, as physical contact is more or less discouraged. Physical displays of affection are forbidden, and thus kissing in public is seen as disgusting.
Headquarters
The Abnegation members reside in a residential area located in the middle of Chicago. All houses are exactly the same size and shape. Their houses are only scantly decorated since they appreciate time for helping and caring others. Bedrooms are segregated by gender. Since Abnegation members are usually selected as government officials, it can be assumed that they control The Hub building as well. During the Abnegation faction genocide by the Erudite through the mind controlled-Dauntless members, most of the area is pillaged and destroyed, with the surviving Abnegation members taking up residence in safe zones or becoming refugee in other factions, particularly Amity.
Faction Relations
Abnegation, despite being seen as peaceful, neutral, and calm, have a fierce ongoing rivalry with Erudite faction. Abnegation is in charge of the government, and the Erudite, who seek power, believe that they are in fact selfish people who only provide for their own faction. It is very rare for a child born into Abnegation to transfer to Erudite and vice versa, though it has been seen before. For example, Beatrice's brother, Caleb Prior, switched to Erudite. Due to faction relations, parents and family of the Abnegation/Erudite transfers cannot visit their children, as Erudite have banned the Abnegation from their compound.
'Stiff' is common slang for Abnegation, and is commonly used by the Dauntless to describe those from Abnegation. Abnegation transfers to Dauntless are also rare, so Beatrice Prior's transfer was a fairly radical occurrence. The Dauntless have little respect for what they view as the weakness and cowardice of Abnegation; Abnegation similarly prefer to have little to do with the Dauntless, as their faction provides the defense and military for all the factions, and this involves extensive training in weapons use and fighting.
Abnegation was apparently on good terms with Amity in the past. This makes sense, as both factions value peaceful conduct and detest violence.
Abnegation's relationship with Candor is more or less left unmentioned in the books.
Abnegation Manifesto
"I will be my undoing If I become my obsession.
I will forget the ones I love If I do not serve them.
I will war with others If I refuse to see them.
Therefore I choose to turn away from my reflection,
To rely not on myself
But on my brothers and sisters,
To project always outward
Until I disappear." [citation needed]
As Abnegation is the only faction who has some of its members still believing in God, some add a final line: "And only God remains." [citation needed] That is at the discretion of each member, and is not compulsory.
Abnegation Initiation
Abnegation's Choosing Ceremony substance is a pile of gray stones, which represent simplicity and humility. Abnegation's initiation ceremony is described as a quiet affair. The initiates, who are required to spend thirty days performing community service before they are considered full members, sit side by side on a bench. One of the older members reads the Abnegation manifesto, then all of the older members wash the initiates' feet. They all share a meal, each person serving food to the person on his/her left. It is said in Insurgent that Abnegation has the fewest number of initiates who fail their initiation.
Dauntless (The Brave)
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Cerca Dauntless was a faction formed by those who blamed cowardice for society's problems. The only answer is to face your fears through bravery.
The Dauntless value the virtue of bravery over any other, as such they train to fight and use weapons to prepare their bodies to respond to threats and challenges, which is necessary if they want to survive life as a Dauntless member. The faction also emphasizes the idea of freedom from fear, and test this daily by attempting death-defying feats. Dauntless members and initiates are the only ones allowed to ride the train and do so in a daring way; jumping onto and off the train while it is moving. Most Dauntless children are known to choose the knife in the simulation of the Aptitude Test when facing the dog and they take the stairs in an act of wildness.
Characteristics
The Dauntless are the only faction that have their members, upon reaching a certain age that hinders their ability to uphold the virtue of their faction, become Factionless, or choose to die. Hence, the faction does not have a member that is of old-age.
The Dauntless have their funerals immediately after they are pronounced dead because they want to acknowledge the death as soon as it happens. It is more of a celebration and there is a lot of drinking. Every member gets a certain amount of points to spend per month; they spend their points on clothing and other resources as they see fit. The traditional jobs of Dauntless include but are not limited to: Fence Guard, City's security force, tattoo artist, weapon maker, fighting for entertainment, Dauntless Leader, or some members volunteer to do jobs that traditionally belong to other factions in order to have them closer and not make members go far away (i.e. nurses).
Physical Traits
Dauntless always dress in black. The women wear skin-tight pants, tights, tight dresses, and black boots and shoes. The men wear black pants and form-fitting shirts. Dauntless like to tattoo and pierce their bodies, men and women alike. Girls might wear dark eyeliner and makeup. They might also dye their hair in unusual colours. In the movie, they are shown to wear some red clothing, close to the colour of maroon so they wouldn't be mistaken for the red that Amity people wear.
Functions
The people of Dauntless are in charge of the city's security, protecting its inhabitants from threats within and without as the city's peacekeepers. The Dauntless were previously responsible in policing the Factionless sectors of the city until the City Council voted to relieve them of that duty. Their main task is to guard the fence that surrounds the city. It is considered a dangerous job, but it is also a necessary one and it seems likely that this is part of the reason no other faction has a disagreement with Dauntless. They maintain the city gates which are locked from the outside.
Headquarters
The Dauntless is headquartered in The Pit, an underground network of caves located below Chicago. Inside The Pit are residential areas, arenas used for physical tests for initiates or game fights between members, tattoo area, and others. There is also The Chasm, a deep ravine with sharp rocks and a river below, which is frequently used as a suicide spot for older members about to be exiled from the Dauntless to become factionless, or initiates who feel pressured from losing their ranks, such as Al. Contrasting with the Abnegation, both genders of the Dauntless members sleep inside the same room.
Faction Relations
Despite being the most warlike faction, Dauntless appears to have a smoothly neutral relationship with the other factions. While Erudite and Abnegation fight for government control, and Candor and Amity fight over peace and deception, Dauntless are seen as the fighters. They prove to be good allies as they are trained in the art of fighting and honing physical skills.
Johanna Reyes of Amity states that "Peace between Amity and Dauntless can only happen when we maintain our distance from each other." The Amity's pledge to promote peace is understandably in stark contrast to the Dauntless' confrontational nature. Children born into Dauntless rarely leave the faction, as it is easy to remain brave if you were raised in a similar manner from childhood. Children born in Candor and Erudite are the most common transfers to this faction.
Dauntless Manifesto
"We believe that cowardice is to blame for the world's injustices. We believe that peace is hard-won, that sometimes it is necessary to fight for peace.
But more than that:
We believe that justice is more important than peace.
We believe in freedom from fear, in denying fear the power to influence our decisions.
We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.
We believe in acknowledging fear and the extent to which it rules us.
We believe in facing that fear no matter what the cost to our comfort, our happiness, or even our sanity.
We believe in shouting for those who can only whisper, in defending those who cannot defend themselves.
We believe, not just in bold words but in bold deeds to match them.
We believe that pain and death are better than cowardice and inaction because we believe in action.
We do not believe in living comfortable lives.
We do not believe that silence is useful.
We do not believe in good manners.
We do not believe in empty heads, empty mouths, or empty hands.
We do not believe that learning to master violence encourages unnecessary violence.
We do not believe that we should be allowed to stand idly by.
We do not believe that any other virtue is more important than bravery."
Dauntless Initiation
The initiates all sleep in the same room (boys and girls).
The initiation process is taken very seriously.
There are three stages to Dauntless initiation: The physical, the emotional, and the mental.
The initiates are separated during the first stage of initiation. The Dauntless born initiates are trained by Lauren, and the transfers are trained by Four.
Any initiates who do not qualify after the first and third rounds are kicked out and become factionless.
The Dauntless born initiates and the transfers are scored separately for the first stage, which is physical combat.
In the physical stage, initiates learn how to fight and are pitted against each other to prove what they have learned. They are scored based on their victories and losses.
In the emotional stage, initiates are put into a simulation where they face their fears, oblivious to the fact that it is a simple simulation, and have to calm themselves to get out. The Divergent seem to have a knack for this stage, as they are aware it is not real.
In the final stage, the mental, initiates are put into their fear landscapes, which reaches for every fear within the person subjected to it and creates a simulation in which they must face each one. This time, everyone is aware that the simulation is not real.
The Dauntless provide the transfers with some basic black clothing at the beginning of initiation.
Those not in the top five of each initiation class typically end up as guards.
It is tradition for initiates to divide into two teams and play capture the flag with their instructors at the Navy Pier during initiation.
On Visiting Day, initiates are reminded not to seem too attached to their families if they visit since the Dauntless take the phrase 'faction before blood' very seriously.
Initiation Day is an exciting but chaotic experience with people everywhere, many of them drunk.
The higher the rank they get, the better jobs they will have.
Dauntless's Choosing Ceremony substance is lit coals, symbolizing their fiery passion for what they do.
Erudite (The Intelligent)
Erudite was formed by those who blamed human nature for the faults of society. They formed Erudite as a way of eliminating ignorance and darkness from human minds.
Their symbol is a single blue eye that most likely represents their knowledge of the world. Erudite's leader is Jeanine Matthews, proven to be the smartest member of the faction based on her IQ level.
Virtue
Erudite values the virtue of intelligence and wisdom over any other. The members focus their lives on the pursuit of knowledge. Erudite are expected to delegate themselves in the library reading books, or, most commonly, reading something from the computer. They are also known to have memorized the city map. Members are also known to be particularly eloquent.
Because of the Erudite's thirst for knowledge, they are the ones easily susceptible to moral corruption as knowledge leads to lust for power. Jeanine Matthews is an evident example of this trait.
Physical Traits
Typically wearing some shade of blue.
Functions
The faction produces most of the city's librarians, doctors, scientists, and teachers. They are responsible for keeping records of the city and the factions. All technological achievements that the factions benefit from came from Erudite minds, such as the advanced agrarian methods employed by the Amity and all of the simulation serums.
Headquarters
The Erudite is headquartered in skyscrapers located at the heart of Chicago. It is very futuristic compared to other faction headquarters. Anyone who wants to enter their headquarters will be scanned to identify their faction of origin; using this, the Erudite is able to forbid entry of the Abnegation family members from visiting their Erudite relatives due to the enmity between Erudite and Abnegation. The Erudite compound houses libraries, laboratories, and other scientific and educational areas.
Faction Relations
Erudite harbor a fierce grudge against Abnegation, believing that they are secret-keepers who are not nearly as selfless as they seem. They seek power over the government, and on many occasions sabotage members of Abnegation to get what they want. They also use Dauntless as their soldiers near the end of Divergent. They have a close relationship with Amity, but Amity are not involved in the war because they are the peace faction. No relationship is stated between Erudite and Candor; however, Erudite leader Jeanine Matthews stated that she thought Candor is an unnecessary and hampering faction, as prior to events in Divergent, each faction but Candor had a major impact on society (Abnegation is the governing faction, Amity sources food for the city, Dauntless is in charge of the city's security, and Erudite is in charge of technological advancement and structural development of the city).
Erudite Manifesto
We submit the following statements as truth:
"Ignorance" is defined not as unintelligence but as lack of knowledge. Lack of knowledge inevitably leads to lack of understanding.
Lack of understanding leads to a disconnect among people with differences.
Disconnection among people with differences leads to conflict.
Knowledge is the only logical solution to the problem of conflict.
Therefore, we propose that in order to eliminate conflict, we must eliminate the disconnect among those with differences by correcting the lack of understanding that arises from ignorance with knowledge.
The areas in which people must be educated are:
Sociology - So that the individual understands how society works at large functions.
Psychology - So that the individual understands how a person functions within that society.
Mathematics - So that the individual is prepared for further study in science, engineering, medicine, and technology.
Science - So that the individual better understands how the world operates. So that the individual's study in other areas is supplemented. So that as many individuals as possible are prepared to enter the fields devoted to innovation and progress.
Communication - So that the individual knows how to speak and write clearly and effectively.
History - So that the individual understands the mistakes and successes that have led us to this point. So that the individual learns to emulate those successes and avoid those mistakes.
Leaders must not be chosen based on charisma, popularity, or ease of communication, all of which are misleading and have little to do with the efficacy of a political leader. An objective standard must be used in order to determine who is best fit to lead. That standard will be an intelligence test, administered to all adults when the present leader reaches fifty-five or begins to decline in function in a demonstrable way.
Those who, after rigorous studying, do not meet a minimum intelligence requirement will be exiled from the faction so they can be made useful. This is not an act of elitism but rather one of practicality: Those who are not intelligent enough to engage in the roles assigned to us—roles that require a considerable mental capacity—are better suited to menial work than to faction work. Menial work is required for the survival of society, and is therefore just as important as faction work.
Information must always be made available to all faction members at all times. The withholding of information is punishable by reprimand, imprisonment, and, eventually, exile. Every question that can be answered must be answered or at least engaged. Illogical thought processes must be challenged when they arise. Wrong answers must be corrected. Correct answers must be affirmed. If an answer to a question is unclear, it must be put to debate. All debates require evidence. Any controversial thought or idea must be supplemented by evidence in order to reduce the potential for conflict.
Intelligence must be used for the benefit, and not to the detriment, of society. Those who use intelligence for their own personal gain or to the detriment of others have not properly borne the responsibility of their gift, and are not welcome in our faction.
It bears repeating: Intelligence is a gift, not a right. It must be wielded not as a weapon but as a tool for the betterment of others.
Initiation
Erudite's Choosing Ceremony substance is water, symbolizing their desire for clarity. Not much is revealed of the Erudite initiation, but from the manifesto, they most likely study, and take rigorous tests. It is also stated by Therese that there is an initiation intelligence test that, if not passed, results in one becoming factionless. Caleb reveals that each of the initiates selects one topic to research, and is trained in a certain subject of expertise in Erudite.
Amity (The Peaceful)
Amity is a faction that dislikes war, discord, and strife of any kind. They blame aggression as the root of all evil. They do not recognize a leader but use Johanna Reyes as their representative/mouthpiece. Amity's Choosing Ceremony substance is a bowl of earth, symbolizing their dedication to the environment. Most of the members of the Amity faction wear either red, yellow, or both combinations of articles of clothing, symbolizing the comfortable agricultural way of life that the members practice. Not much is known about Amity initiation, other than that it includes picking fruit and sing-alongs.
Virtue
Amity value peace in the utmost degree. The members prefer to solve solutions through non-aggression and diplomacy. They are a highly democratic faction, voting on almost everything. Even the food that they eat contains a peace serum, meant to prevent the faction members from fighting. Their perceived passiveness gives them a reputation as a reactionary faction.
Along with Abnegation, Amity are the only faction that still believe in higher beings. As part of their agricultural society, Amity practice a naturalistic religion that includes bonfires and dances, in which the members wish for spirits to bless them with fertility.
Functions
Members of the Amity faction practice agriculture as a way of living, and thus hold the most important role among the factions: as suppliers of food and nutrients. They produce wheat, corn, potato, flour, and other grains and vegetables, which are shipped using trucks towards the city. They also supply the city with water and sanitation through the numerous waterways and mills. The technology for the means of production is mostly provided by the Erudite faction.
Headquarters
Amity are the only faction that are allowed to exit the walls that bound Chicago, as their headquarters is located in the forests and farmland immediately outside the walls. Members live in scattered housing areas and assemble in a hub that surrounds a tree where they eat and hold meetings. In Allegiant, it is revealed that, as the only faction that have an unrestricted access to the outside world, Amity is entrusted with the memory serums, which they inject to the people daring enough to step outside the boundary line of the city, erasing their radical thoughts and making them return to the city.
Faction Relations
Amity prefer to be neutral during all conflicts, hence they have good relations with the other four factions and willingly host refugees in the case of conflict. They are particularly close to Erudite, as the latter supply most of the technological advancements that allow Amity to use more efficient methods of growing food. Though relation with Dauntless is amicable, Amity dislike the latter's highly warlike foundation and Johanna at one time states that the two factions are better when they are far from each other. In the past, Amity had a close relationship with Abnegation, owing to their mutual preference for non-violence; this relation is what caused Amity to host the largest amount of refugees from Abnegation after their genocide.
Candor (The Honest)
The Candor value honesty and cannot tell lies. They say whatever is the truth, even if it gets them into trouble. Candor children are taught to speak their minds at every moment. They are often lawyers, because they are truthful about everything. The Candor believe that truth is black and white, so that is what they wear. Christina, Tris' best friend, was a former Candor member. Christina mentions in Divergent that in Candor initiation, they use truth serum to make the person tell their darkest secrets, so they have nothing to hide and can be honest. Candor's Choosing Ceremony substance is glass, representing not only transparency but also that the truth can be cutting.
Headquarters
The Candor is headquartered in a building called Merciless Mart (formerly Merchandise Mart). It is a tall, 18-story building that houses residential areas as well as a large windowless and roofless room where the members of Candor gather.
Factionless
Those who do not belong to any factions are simply called Factionless. Though they mostly live independently of others, a large part of them subscribe to the authority of Evelyn Johnson-Eaton. Not much is revealed in the film, other than they survive by foraging in garbage and appear to be ostracised by the other factions with the exception of Abnegation, who feed them and care for them.
Headquarters
In Divergent, the factionless is explained as homeless people living in the streets with no headquarters to speak of. However, Insurgent reveals that the factionless live in scattered safe zones, slums, and squatters in harmony, and not disjointed, as the other factions believe.
Serums
The factions use certain serums to keep their virtues under control. Every serum is created by Erudite, because they are scientists.
Simulation Serum
The Simulation Serum is the serum associated with Dauntless. It is a drug used to induce simulations in the Aptitude Tests and by Dauntless in the second stage of Dauntless Initiation. It was designed by Jeanine Matthews. The Aptitude is administered by drinking, and the Dauntless Initiation is administered by a shot. For the Aptitude, the serum projects the drinker with choices that the overseer will calculate to determine their best choice on the factions. In the Dauntless Initiation, it projects the drinker with their worst fears, in ascending order, and forces the drinker to find a way to overcome them. The simulation is not lethal, though it may greatly traumatize the drinker. Meanwhile, the Divergents, who cannot be controlled, will recognize that the simulation is not real and easily escape from it.
Peace Serum
The Peace Serum is the serum associated with Amity. It is a drug that is used by Amity in order to maintain peace in their factions. It was concocted by Erudite, like every other serum. The serum's effects can be seen immediately after administration. In small doses, it calms the mind and improves the mood of the person administered. The person may forget why he/she was angry in the first place. A feeling of calmness replaces the irateness of the administered. Dizziness is a common side-effect of the serum. Because the serum's dosage is linked to the person's height and weight, overdosage can be common had the aforementioned factors not be taken into consideration. In large doses, exaggerating effects can be evident. A euphoric and overly-elated feeling can be a common effect. The Peace Serum is apparently baked inside the bread continually made by Amity to maintain peace inside the faction. The serum was first seen and administered in Insurgent to Tris Prior, after being in a fight with Peter, who tried to steal the hard drive containing the simulation program. However, the Amity character that gave Tris the serum did not take into account her height and weight, resulting in an overdose that placed Tris in a state of euphoria.
Truth Serum
The Truth Serum is the serum associated with Candor, used for their initiation and interrogation. In Insurgent, the truth serum was visibly used for the first time on Four and eventually on Tris upon arriving in Candor for the first time. Jack Kang, Candor's leader, ordered the two be arrested and interrogated for allegedly committing crimes against humanity. While under the serum, Four was asked questions regarding his involvement in the simulation that controlled almost all of Dauntless, resulting in mass murder of innocent people. He answered truthfully, forced by the simulating effect of the serum. The Candor acquitted him of his crimes upon finding out Four's situation regarding his loss of control under Erudite's simulation. After Four, Tris was also put under the serum and she was forced to answer honestly. She was acquitted as well when they found out that she was in the Dauntless control room only to try to stop Four and the simulation itself.
Death Serum
The Death Serum is the serum associated with Erudite. As the name implies, the serum is used for execution. Jeanine Matthews attempted to use it when Tris surrendered herself for testing, though it was actually a different, non-lethal serum dyed purple. The real serum was in Peter's hands. In Allegiant, the room that stored the Memory Serum in the Bureau is revealed to contain a heavy dose of Death Serum meant to repel anyone who tried to use the former. While Tris was heavily injured by it, she managed to hold on by virtue as a strong Divergent as well as by thinking about the people she loved and the ones who died for her.
Memory Serum
The Memory Serum is a serum revealed in Allegiant to be the serum associated with Abnegation. Unlike the other serums, only the people of the Bureau, who resided outside Chicago, kept it. It is seen in both liquid and gaseous forms; the former for individual use, while the latter for a wider range. When injected/inhaled, the recipient will forget events that happened in their life. It can be counteracted by a liquid serum, so the recipient cannot be affected by the Memory Serum. The Memory Serum was nearly used on the whole city by the leader of the Bureau of Genetic Welfare, David, in order to erase everyone's memory inside Chicago, and start his experiment (the faction system) again with a clean slate. It ended up backfiring on him when Tris stopped the event at the cost of her life.
Immobility Serum
The Immobility Serum is a serum that is briefly used in Insurgent. Peter switches out the Death serum with this serum to make Tris look dead to cover up their escape.
Reception
Many reviews for the Divergent novels criticize the social structures creating the factions within the novel. For example, the Kirkus Review, when talking about the first novel, called the social structure a "preposterous premise."[3]
References
Roth, Veronica. "Bonus materials: Q&A with Veronica Roth". Divergent. New York: Harper Collins, 2011. 8.
Kirsch, Becky. "Divergent Author Veronica Roth Says "All the Pressing Questions That You Have Will Be Answered" in Allegiant". POPSUGAR Entertainment. Retrieved 2014-03-27.
"Divergent". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
Development
In an interview Roth describes the factions to have expanded from her initial conception when doing worldbuilding. She added Candor to fill "a gap in the reasoning behind the world that needed to be filled."[2]
Background
As revealed in Allegiant, the establishment of the faction system was directly caused by an event known as the Purity War. Years before the events of the series started, people thought that human errors were caused by what they thought were damages in their genes and tried to "correct" them. What they produced were instead violence that erupted from these "corrected" people, who were termed the "genetically damaged" (GD). Due to the discrimination they faced from the "genetically pure" (GP), the GD and GP fought the Purity War, which resulted in half of the US population dying. To counteract this, the U.S. government decided to set up several experimental bottle cities run by an organization known as the Bureau of Genetic Welfare. The goal of this project was to produce more GP population, known inside the bottle cities as "Divergents" from the GD subjects; once they were deemed enough, the cities were to be opened for the GP to repopulate the land.
All of the experimental cities were set up in the Midwest, as the cities needed to be located as far away from each other while simultaneously have easy access; the East Coast cities were deemed too close, while the terrain of the West Coast made it hard to navigate. Though Chicago was the most notable of the experimental cities by virtue as the central setting of the series, there were several cities mentioned to be experimented beforehand, including Indianapolis and Milwaukee, both of which were considered "control cities", as neither had the rigid faction system that ultimately caused their failures. Chicago was the first city where the faction system became a part of the social structure, which proved to be groundbreaking enough to be implemented in other experimental cities, including Detroit, Minneapolis, and St. Louis.
Inside the experimental cities, walls were set up so the population could not learn about the situation they were placed in, while security cameras were placed in almost all sectors of the urban areas to monitor them. Due to the long period of isolation, the population gradually forgot about their affliction and reversed the discrimination, so that the now-dominant GD excluded the GP from their social life. Due to the value of the Divergents, however, whenever a conflict threatened the Divergents' lives, an outside person would be sent inside to ensure safe passage of the Divergents from the cities.
Abnegation (The Selfless)
The Abnegation head leader is Marcus Eaton. One of the other leaders is Andrew Prior, the father of Beatrice 'Tris' Prior.
Abnegation value the virtue of selflessness over any other. Abnegation initiates are forced upon attaining membership to reject a life of vanity and self-indulgence, in theory to protect themselves from greed and envy (considered forms of selfishness). Gossiping, using a mirror for long periods of time, and buying luxury items are forbidden. As Abnegation members, the focus of their lives will be in serving others instead of themselves: anything done for self-enjoyment is discouraged. Abnegation are usually very quiet, as they don't like to call attention to themselves and find joy in helping others.
Members are expected to be compliant with the wishes of others at all times, even if the other person is an Abnegation as well. They take the stairs so elevators can be used by others. It is not unnatural for strangers on the streets to find an Abnegation helping them with tasks such as carrying their groceries or providing first aid for injuries. Immoral actions such as the usage of guns for violence are not a trait of Abnegation. The faction mandates that guns only be used for self-defense. As Abnegation are viewed as morally incorruptible, the city's political leaders are almost exclusively drawn from this faction, with the notable exception of Erudite leader Jeanine Matthews who was selected due to her high IQ. Because of their outwardly submissive nature, other factions tend to think of them as weak.
At the end of Divergent, the Erudite, as part of their goal to usurp the Abnegation as leader of the society, commits a large-scale genocide on the Abnegation population through the mind controlled-Dauntless members, which destroys 90% of the population, including all but one council member, and forces the remaining ones to seek refuge in other places. As such, they are considered "dead" with only four factions making up the society of Chicago.
Physical traits
The main goal of Abnegation is to forget oneself and serve others, so they wear all Grey to be less noticeable. Abnegation clothes are also typically very baggy. Gray robes, pants, and T-shirts are common dress. Women typically pin up their hair and men cut their hair short. Abnegation are allowed to cut their hair every three months, and every six months they pick up a stack of new but nearly identical clothes. The only adornment they are allowed is a simple gray watch, 'And only because it's practical,' as Beatrice 'Tris' Prior says during one of the first chapters of Divergent. They greet each other by bowing their heads, as physical contact is more or less discouraged. Physical displays of affection are forbidden, and thus kissing in public is seen as disgusting.
Headquarters
The Abnegation members reside in a residential area located in the middle of Chicago. All houses are exactly the same size and shape. Their houses are only scantly decorated since they appreciate time for helping and caring others. Bedrooms are segregated by gender. Since Abnegation members are usually selected as government officials, it can be assumed that they control The Hub building as well. During the Abnegation faction genocide by the Erudite through the mind controlled-Dauntless members, most of the area is pillaged and destroyed, with the surviving Abnegation members taking up residence in safe zones or becoming refugee in other factions, particularly Amity.
Faction Relations
Abnegation, despite being seen as peaceful, neutral, and calm, have a fierce ongoing rivalry with Erudite faction. Abnegation is in charge of the government, and the Erudite, who seek power, believe that they are in fact selfish people who only provide for their own faction. It is very rare for a child born into Abnegation to transfer to Erudite and vice versa, though it has been seen before. For example, Beatrice's brother, Caleb Prior, switched to Erudite. Due to faction relations, parents and family of the Abnegation/Erudite transfers cannot visit their children, as Erudite have banned the Abnegation from their compound.
'Stiff' is common slang for Abnegation, and is commonly used by the Dauntless to describe those from Abnegation. Abnegation transfers to Dauntless are also rare, so Beatrice Prior's transfer was a fairly radical occurrence. The Dauntless have little respect for what they view as the weakness and cowardice of Abnegation; Abnegation similarly prefer to have little to do with the Dauntless, as their faction provides the defense and military for all the factions, and this involves extensive training in weapons use and fighting.
Abnegation was apparently on good terms with Amity in the past. This makes sense, as both factions value peaceful conduct and detest violence.
Abnegation's relationship with Candor is more or less left unmentioned in the books.
Abnegation Manifesto
"I will be my undoing If I become my obsession.
I will forget the ones I love If I do not serve them.
I will war with others If I refuse to see them.
Therefore I choose to turn away from my reflection,
To rely not on myself
But on my brothers and sisters,
To project always outward
Until I disappear." [citation needed]
As Abnegation is the only faction who has some of its members still believing in God, some add a final line: "And only God remains." [citation needed] That is at the discretion of each member, and is not compulsory.
Abnegation Initiation
Abnegation's Choosing Ceremony substance is a pile of gray stones, which represent simplicity and humility. Abnegation's initiation ceremony is described as a quiet affair. The initiates, who are required to spend thirty days performing community service before they are considered full members, sit side by side on a bench. One of the older members reads the Abnegation manifesto, then all of the older members wash the initiates' feet. They all share a meal, each person serving food to the person on his/her left. It is said in Insurgent that Abnegation has the fewest number of initiates who fail their initiation.
Dauntless (The Brave)
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Cerca Dauntless was a faction formed by those who blamed cowardice for society's problems. The only answer is to face your fears through bravery.
The Dauntless value the virtue of bravery over any other, as such they train to fight and use weapons to prepare their bodies to respond to threats and challenges, which is necessary if they want to survive life as a Dauntless member. The faction also emphasizes the idea of freedom from fear, and test this daily by attempting death-defying feats. Dauntless members and initiates are the only ones allowed to ride the train and do so in a daring way; jumping onto and off the train while it is moving. Most Dauntless children are known to choose the knife in the simulation of the Aptitude Test when facing the dog and they take the stairs in an act of wildness.
Characteristics
The Dauntless are the only faction that have their members, upon reaching a certain age that hinders their ability to uphold the virtue of their faction, become Factionless, or choose to die. Hence, the faction does not have a member that is of old-age.
The Dauntless have their funerals immediately after they are pronounced dead because they want to acknowledge the death as soon as it happens. It is more of a celebration and there is a lot of drinking. Every member gets a certain amount of points to spend per month; they spend their points on clothing and other resources as they see fit. The traditional jobs of Dauntless include but are not limited to: Fence Guard, City's security force, tattoo artist, weapon maker, fighting for entertainment, Dauntless Leader, or some members volunteer to do jobs that traditionally belong to other factions in order to have them closer and not make members go far away (i.e. nurses).
Physical Traits
Dauntless always dress in black. The women wear skin-tight pants, tights, tight dresses, and black boots and shoes. The men wear black pants and form-fitting shirts. Dauntless like to tattoo and pierce their bodies, men and women alike. Girls might wear dark eyeliner and makeup. They might also dye their hair in unusual colours. In the movie, they are shown to wear some red clothing, close to the colour of maroon so they wouldn't be mistaken for the red that Amity people wear.
Functions
The people of Dauntless are in charge of the city's security, protecting its inhabitants from threats within and without as the city's peacekeepers. The Dauntless were previously responsible in policing the Factionless sectors of the city until the City Council voted to relieve them of that duty. Their main task is to guard the fence that surrounds the city. It is considered a dangerous job, but it is also a necessary one and it seems likely that this is part of the reason no other faction has a disagreement with Dauntless. They maintain the city gates which are locked from the outside.
Headquarters
The Dauntless is headquartered in The Pit, an underground network of caves located below Chicago. Inside The Pit are residential areas, arenas used for physical tests for initiates or game fights between members, tattoo area, and others. There is also The Chasm, a deep ravine with sharp rocks and a river below, which is frequently used as a suicide spot for older members about to be exiled from the Dauntless to become factionless, or initiates who feel pressured from losing their ranks, such as Al. Contrasting with the Abnegation, both genders of the Dauntless members sleep inside the same room.
Faction Relations
Despite being the most warlike faction, Dauntless appears to have a smoothly neutral relationship with the other factions. While Erudite and Abnegation fight for government control, and Candor and Amity fight over peace and deception, Dauntless are seen as the fighters. They prove to be good allies as they are trained in the art of fighting and honing physical skills.
Johanna Reyes of Amity states that "Peace between Amity and Dauntless can only happen when we maintain our distance from each other." The Amity's pledge to promote peace is understandably in stark contrast to the Dauntless' confrontational nature. Children born into Dauntless rarely leave the faction, as it is easy to remain brave if you were raised in a similar manner from childhood. Children born in Candor and Erudite are the most common transfers to this faction.
Dauntless Manifesto
"We believe that cowardice is to blame for the world's injustices. We believe that peace is hard-won, that sometimes it is necessary to fight for peace.
But more than that:
We believe that justice is more important than peace.
We believe in freedom from fear, in denying fear the power to influence our decisions.
We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.
We believe in acknowledging fear and the extent to which it rules us.
We believe in facing that fear no matter what the cost to our comfort, our happiness, or even our sanity.
We believe in shouting for those who can only whisper, in defending those who cannot defend themselves.
We believe, not just in bold words but in bold deeds to match them.
We believe that pain and death are better than cowardice and inaction because we believe in action.
We do not believe in living comfortable lives.
We do not believe that silence is useful.
We do not believe in good manners.
We do not believe in empty heads, empty mouths, or empty hands.
We do not believe that learning to master violence encourages unnecessary violence.
We do not believe that we should be allowed to stand idly by.
We do not believe that any other virtue is more important than bravery."
Dauntless Initiation
The initiates all sleep in the same room (boys and girls).
The initiation process is taken very seriously.
There are three stages to Dauntless initiation: The physical, the emotional, and the mental.
The initiates are separated during the first stage of initiation. The Dauntless born initiates are trained by Lauren, and the transfers are trained by Four.
Any initiates who do not qualify after the first and third rounds are kicked out and become factionless.
The Dauntless born initiates and the transfers are scored separately for the first stage, which is physical combat.
In the physical stage, initiates learn how to fight and are pitted against each other to prove what they have learned. They are scored based on their victories and losses.
In the emotional stage, initiates are put into a simulation where they face their fears, oblivious to the fact that it is a simple simulation, and have to calm themselves to get out. The Divergent seem to have a knack for this stage, as they are aware it is not real.
In the final stage, the mental, initiates are put into their fear landscapes, which reaches for every fear within the person subjected to it and creates a simulation in which they must face each one. This time, everyone is aware that the simulation is not real.
The Dauntless provide the transfers with some basic black clothing at the beginning of initiation.
Those not in the top five of each initiation class typically end up as guards.
It is tradition for initiates to divide into two teams and play capture the flag with their instructors at the Navy Pier during initiation.
On Visiting Day, initiates are reminded not to seem too attached to their families if they visit since the Dauntless take the phrase 'faction before blood' very seriously.
Initiation Day is an exciting but chaotic experience with people everywhere, many of them drunk.
The higher the rank they get, the better jobs they will have.
Dauntless's Choosing Ceremony substance is lit coals, symbolizing their fiery passion for what they do.
Erudite (The Intelligent)
Erudite was formed by those who blamed human nature for the faults of society. They formed Erudite as a way of eliminating ignorance and darkness from human minds.
Their symbol is a single blue eye that most likely represents their knowledge of the world. Erudite's leader is Jeanine Matthews, proven to be the smartest member of the faction based on her IQ level.
Virtue
Erudite values the virtue of intelligence and wisdom over any other. The members focus their lives on the pursuit of knowledge. Erudite are expected to delegate themselves in the library reading books, or, most commonly, reading something from the computer. They are also known to have memorized the city map. Members are also known to be particularly eloquent.
Because of the Erudite's thirst for knowledge, they are the ones easily susceptible to moral corruption as knowledge leads to lust for power. Jeanine Matthews is an evident example of this trait.
Physical Traits
Typically wearing some shade of blue.
Functions
The faction produces most of the city's librarians, doctors, scientists, and teachers. They are responsible for keeping records of the city and the factions. All technological achievements that the factions benefit from came from Erudite minds, such as the advanced agrarian methods employed by the Amity and all of the simulation serums.
Headquarters
The Erudite is headquartered in skyscrapers located at the heart of Chicago. It is very futuristic compared to other faction headquarters. Anyone who wants to enter their headquarters will be scanned to identify their faction of origin; using this, the Erudite is able to forbid entry of the Abnegation family members from visiting their Erudite relatives due to the enmity between Erudite and Abnegation. The Erudite compound houses libraries, laboratories, and other scientific and educational areas.
Faction Relations
Erudite harbor a fierce grudge against Abnegation, believing that they are secret-keepers who are not nearly as selfless as they seem. They seek power over the government, and on many occasions sabotage members of Abnegation to get what they want. They also use Dauntless as their soldiers near the end of Divergent. They have a close relationship with Amity, but Amity are not involved in the war because they are the peace faction. No relationship is stated between Erudite and Candor; however, Erudite leader Jeanine Matthews stated that she thought Candor is an unnecessary and hampering faction, as prior to events in Divergent, each faction but Candor had a major impact on society (Abnegation is the governing faction, Amity sources food for the city, Dauntless is in charge of the city's security, and Erudite is in charge of technological advancement and structural development of the city).
Erudite Manifesto
We submit the following statements as truth:
"Ignorance" is defined not as unintelligence but as lack of knowledge. Lack of knowledge inevitably leads to lack of understanding.
Lack of understanding leads to a disconnect among people with differences.
Disconnection among people with differences leads to conflict.
Knowledge is the only logical solution to the problem of conflict.
Therefore, we propose that in order to eliminate conflict, we must eliminate the disconnect among those with differences by correcting the lack of understanding that arises from ignorance with knowledge.
The areas in which people must be educated are:
Sociology - So that the individual understands how society works at large functions.
Psychology - So that the individual understands how a person functions within that society.
Mathematics - So that the individual is prepared for further study in science, engineering, medicine, and technology.
Science - So that the individual better understands how the world operates. So that the individual's study in other areas is supplemented. So that as many individuals as possible are prepared to enter the fields devoted to innovation and progress.
Communication - So that the individual knows how to speak and write clearly and effectively.
History - So that the individual understands the mistakes and successes that have led us to this point. So that the individual learns to emulate those successes and avoid those mistakes.
Leaders must not be chosen based on charisma, popularity, or ease of communication, all of which are misleading and have little to do with the efficacy of a political leader. An objective standard must be used in order to determine who is best fit to lead. That standard will be an intelligence test, administered to all adults when the present leader reaches fifty-five or begins to decline in function in a demonstrable way.
Those who, after rigorous studying, do not meet a minimum intelligence requirement will be exiled from the faction so they can be made useful. This is not an act of elitism but rather one of practicality: Those who are not intelligent enough to engage in the roles assigned to us—roles that require a considerable mental capacity—are better suited to menial work than to faction work. Menial work is required for the survival of society, and is therefore just as important as faction work.
Information must always be made available to all faction members at all times. The withholding of information is punishable by reprimand, imprisonment, and, eventually, exile. Every question that can be answered must be answered or at least engaged. Illogical thought processes must be challenged when they arise. Wrong answers must be corrected. Correct answers must be affirmed. If an answer to a question is unclear, it must be put to debate. All debates require evidence. Any controversial thought or idea must be supplemented by evidence in order to reduce the potential for conflict.
Intelligence must be used for the benefit, and not to the detriment, of society. Those who use intelligence for their own personal gain or to the detriment of others have not properly borne the responsibility of their gift, and are not welcome in our faction.
It bears repeating: Intelligence is a gift, not a right. It must be wielded not as a weapon but as a tool for the betterment of others.
Initiation
Erudite's Choosing Ceremony substance is water, symbolizing their desire for clarity. Not much is revealed of the Erudite initiation, but from the manifesto, they most likely study, and take rigorous tests. It is also stated by Therese that there is an initiation intelligence test that, if not passed, results in one becoming factionless. Caleb reveals that each of the initiates selects one topic to research, and is trained in a certain subject of expertise in Erudite.
Amity (The Peaceful)
Amity is a faction that dislikes war, discord, and strife of any kind. They blame aggression as the root of all evil. They do not recognize a leader but use Johanna Reyes as their representative/mouthpiece. Amity's Choosing Ceremony substance is a bowl of earth, symbolizing their dedication to the environment. Most of the members of the Amity faction wear either red, yellow, or both combinations of articles of clothing, symbolizing the comfortable agricultural way of life that the members practice. Not much is known about Amity initiation, other than that it includes picking fruit and sing-alongs.
Virtue
Amity value peace in the utmost degree. The members prefer to solve solutions through non-aggression and diplomacy. They are a highly democratic faction, voting on almost everything. Even the food that they eat contains a peace serum, meant to prevent the faction members from fighting. Their perceived passiveness gives them a reputation as a reactionary faction.
Along with Abnegation, Amity are the only faction that still believe in higher beings. As part of their agricultural society, Amity practice a naturalistic religion that includes bonfires and dances, in which the members wish for spirits to bless them with fertility.
Functions
Members of the Amity faction practice agriculture as a way of living, and thus hold the most important role among the factions: as suppliers of food and nutrients. They produce wheat, corn, potato, flour, and other grains and vegetables, which are shipped using trucks towards the city. They also supply the city with water and sanitation through the numerous waterways and mills. The technology for the means of production is mostly provided by the Erudite faction.
Headquarters
Amity are the only faction that are allowed to exit the walls that bound Chicago, as their headquarters is located in the forests and farmland immediately outside the walls. Members live in scattered housing areas and assemble in a hub that surrounds a tree where they eat and hold meetings. In Allegiant, it is revealed that, as the only faction that have an unrestricted access to the outside world, Amity is entrusted with the memory serums, which they inject to the people daring enough to step outside the boundary line of the city, erasing their radical thoughts and making them return to the city.
Faction Relations
Amity prefer to be neutral during all conflicts, hence they have good relations with the other four factions and willingly host refugees in the case of conflict. They are particularly close to Erudite, as the latter supply most of the technological advancements that allow Amity to use more efficient methods of growing food. Though relation with Dauntless is amicable, Amity dislike the latter's highly warlike foundation and Johanna at one time states that the two factions are better when they are far from each other. In the past, Amity had a close relationship with Abnegation, owing to their mutual preference for non-violence; this relation is what caused Amity to host the largest amount of refugees from Abnegation after their genocide.
Candor (The Honest)
The Candor value honesty and cannot tell lies. They say whatever is the truth, even if it gets them into trouble. Candor children are taught to speak their minds at every moment. They are often lawyers, because they are truthful about everything. The Candor believe that truth is black and white, so that is what they wear. Christina, Tris' best friend, was a former Candor member. Christina mentions in Divergent that in Candor initiation, they use truth serum to make the person tell their darkest secrets, so they have nothing to hide and can be honest. Candor's Choosing Ceremony substance is glass, representing not only transparency but also that the truth can be cutting.
Headquarters
The Candor is headquartered in a building called Merciless Mart (formerly Merchandise Mart). It is a tall, 18-story building that houses residential areas as well as a large windowless and roofless room where the members of Candor gather.
Factionless
Those who do not belong to any factions are simply called Factionless. Though they mostly live independently of others, a large part of them subscribe to the authority of Evelyn Johnson-Eaton. Not much is revealed in the film, other than they survive by foraging in garbage and appear to be ostracised by the other factions with the exception of Abnegation, who feed them and care for them.
Headquarters
In Divergent, the factionless is explained as homeless people living in the streets with no headquarters to speak of. However, Insurgent reveals that the factionless live in scattered safe zones, slums, and squatters in harmony, and not disjointed, as the other factions believe.
Serums
The factions use certain serums to keep their virtues under control. Every serum is created by Erudite, because they are scientists.
Simulation Serum
The Simulation Serum is the serum associated with Dauntless. It is a drug used to induce simulations in the Aptitude Tests and by Dauntless in the second stage of Dauntless Initiation. It was designed by Jeanine Matthews. The Aptitude is administered by drinking, and the Dauntless Initiation is administered by a shot. For the Aptitude, the serum projects the drinker with choices that the overseer will calculate to determine their best choice on the factions. In the Dauntless Initiation, it projects the drinker with their worst fears, in ascending order, and forces the drinker to find a way to overcome them. The simulation is not lethal, though it may greatly traumatize the drinker. Meanwhile, the Divergents, who cannot be controlled, will recognize that the simulation is not real and easily escape from it.
Peace Serum
The Peace Serum is the serum associated with Amity. It is a drug that is used by Amity in order to maintain peace in their factions. It was concocted by Erudite, like every other serum. The serum's effects can be seen immediately after administration. In small doses, it calms the mind and improves the mood of the person administered. The person may forget why he/she was angry in the first place. A feeling of calmness replaces the irateness of the administered. Dizziness is a common side-effect of the serum. Because the serum's dosage is linked to the person's height and weight, overdosage can be common had the aforementioned factors not be taken into consideration. In large doses, exaggerating effects can be evident. A euphoric and overly-elated feeling can be a common effect. The Peace Serum is apparently baked inside the bread continually made by Amity to maintain peace inside the faction. The serum was first seen and administered in Insurgent to Tris Prior, after being in a fight with Peter, who tried to steal the hard drive containing the simulation program. However, the Amity character that gave Tris the serum did not take into account her height and weight, resulting in an overdose that placed Tris in a state of euphoria.
Truth Serum
The Truth Serum is the serum associated with Candor, used for their initiation and interrogation. In Insurgent, the truth serum was visibly used for the first time on Four and eventually on Tris upon arriving in Candor for the first time. Jack Kang, Candor's leader, ordered the two be arrested and interrogated for allegedly committing crimes against humanity. While under the serum, Four was asked questions regarding his involvement in the simulation that controlled almost all of Dauntless, resulting in mass murder of innocent people. He answered truthfully, forced by the simulating effect of the serum. The Candor acquitted him of his crimes upon finding out Four's situation regarding his loss of control under Erudite's simulation. After Four, Tris was also put under the serum and she was forced to answer honestly. She was acquitted as well when they found out that she was in the Dauntless control room only to try to stop Four and the simulation itself.
Death Serum
The Death Serum is the serum associated with Erudite. As the name implies, the serum is used for execution. Jeanine Matthews attempted to use it when Tris surrendered herself for testing, though it was actually a different, non-lethal serum dyed purple. The real serum was in Peter's hands. In Allegiant, the room that stored the Memory Serum in the Bureau is revealed to contain a heavy dose of Death Serum meant to repel anyone who tried to use the former. While Tris was heavily injured by it, she managed to hold on by virtue as a strong Divergent as well as by thinking about the people she loved and the ones who died for her.
Memory Serum
The Memory Serum is a serum revealed in Allegiant to be the serum associated with Abnegation. Unlike the other serums, only the people of the Bureau, who resided outside Chicago, kept it. It is seen in both liquid and gaseous forms; the former for individual use, while the latter for a wider range. When injected/inhaled, the recipient will forget events that happened in their life. It can be counteracted by a liquid serum, so the recipient cannot be affected by the Memory Serum. The Memory Serum was nearly used on the whole city by the leader of the Bureau of Genetic Welfare, David, in order to erase everyone's memory inside Chicago, and start his experiment (the faction system) again with a clean slate. It ended up backfiring on him when Tris stopped the event at the cost of her life.
Immobility Serum
The Immobility Serum is a serum that is briefly used in Insurgent. Peter switches out the Death serum with this serum to make Tris look dead to cover up their escape.
Reception
Many reviews for the Divergent novels criticize the social structures creating the factions within the novel. For example, the Kirkus Review, when talking about the first novel, called the social structure a "preposterous premise."[3]
References
Roth, Veronica. "Bonus materials: Q&A with Veronica Roth". Divergent. New York: Harper Collins, 2011. 8.
Kirsch, Becky. "Divergent Author Veronica Roth Says "All the Pressing Questions That You Have Will Be Answered" in Allegiant". POPSUGAR Entertainment. Retrieved 2014-03-27.
"Divergent". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 28 December 2012.