Faction Naming 101
Dauntless, Amity. Abnegation. Erudite. Candor. These are five words that used to be just that: words. That is, until Veronica Roth turned them into something else: factions. Three of these words, Candor, Amity, and Abnegation, are nouns whereas Erudite and Dauntless are adjectives. When asked about this, Roth said that she did this intentionally. Since each faction chose their names separately, Roth saw no problem in the names being from different parts of speech. She also said that she picked words that aren't common in everyday speech for the faction names. One reason, she said, was that she wanted to "slow down comprehension of what each faction stands for, so [the reader] learn[s] as much by observing as by the name of the faction itself" (27). Roth also said that a reason for the odd faction names is that "they sound cooler" (27). Here's what these words really mean:
Dauntless
The word "dauntless", according to its definition, means "not to be daunted or intimidated; fearless; intrepid; bold". "Dauntless" is a word that isn't used very often and it's a word that some may not know--precisely why Roth picked it to be the name of the faction for The Brave. To be in the Dauntless faction, one has to be able to jump off of buildings at a moment's notice; to jump on and off of moving trains without a second thought. Those in Dauntless truly seem fearless, although being completely without fear is nearly impossible. Even the Dauntless manifesto realizes that fear exists, saying "We believe in acknowledging fear and the extent to which it rules us" (47). Seeking danger for fun is what the Dauntless spend their free time doing, and it can indeed be classified as "bold." The Dauntless provide protection for the city and "defend those who cannot defend themselves" (47).
Amity
Amity means, "friendship; peaceful harmony." A second definition for "amity" states "mutual understanding and a peaceful relationship, especially between nations..." The "especially between nations" part of the definition is interesting because the Amity are keeping peace between the nations. Especially at the end of the novel when Tris and Tobias, along with the rest of their small group, head to Amity to seek refuge. Amity is seen by all as the peacekeepers. The word "friendship" in the amity definition is accurate because in the Amity manifesto the word "friend" is used in some of the "conversations of peace." For example: "'Why did you fight with your friend?' 'Because she insulted me, and I was angry'" (36). The factions were formed to prevent war, and it seems that Amity holds this together. At the end of the novel, Tris and Tobias go to Amity because they feel that the people of Amity will protect them.
Abnegation
According to its definition, "abnegation" means, "the act or an instance of abnegating, or denying oneself some rights, convenience, etc." The phrase in this definition that particularly shows the ideals of the people of Abnegation is "denying oneself some rights." Those that live in Abnegation truly do deny themselves a lot--mirrors, tasty food, clothes that fit properly. Anything deemed too extravagant is off limits to the people of Abnegation because it is seen as being selfish. The Abnegation manifesto begins, "I will be my undoing/ If I become my obsession./ I will forget the ones I love/ If I do not serve them" (35). Abnegation may seem like one of the more extreme factions because of this very large denial of "rights," Anything that can be perceived as extravagant is banned from Abnegation. Tris says, "Extravagance is considered self-indulgent and unnecessary" (66) when she talks to Christina about the faction she left behind. Because those in Abnegation are so selfless, they are seen as unable to be corrupted, which is why they are the politicians.
Erudite
The definition of the word "erudite" is "having or showing extensive scholarship; learned." The word "extensive" in this definition fits well with how the people of Erudite portray themselves. Information and knowledge is the food of the Erudite people and they eat well past their fill. The Erudite faction manifesto says, "'Ignorance' is defined not as stupidity but as lack of knowledge. Lack of knowledge inevitably leads to lack of understanding" (43). This statement shows just how serious the Erudite people are about their learning and what "stupidity" really means. Those in Erudite do show "extensive" scholarship because all they do is read and learn. The main Erudite building is a library and knowledge is very much the most important thing to those in this faction. The Erudite also keep records of everything happening in the city that they live in.
Candor
"Candor" means "the state or quality of being frank, open, and sincere in speech or expression; candidness." This definition fits well with the people of Candor; especially the word "frank." To be frank is to be honest even if it isn't what someone wants to hear. The people of Candor are honest constantly and it can sometimes get them into trouble when speaking to people from other factions. When Christina is talking to Tris toward the beginning of the novel, she says, "Sorry, am I being rude? I'm used to saying whatever is on my mind" (81). A second definition of "candor" that doesn't fit as well is, "freedom from bias; fairness; impartiality." Candor has a rivalry with Amity and, though it is not as obvious as the rivalry between Erudite and Abnegation, it is still there. "Those who seek peace will always deceive to keep the waters calm", so they are seen as a threat to Candor's ideals. Because of this, Candor is not as "impartial" as the definition of the word may suggest. Candor's manifesto includes several paragraphs on how important it is to be honest because lying leads to conflict. The manifesto ends with, "Truth makes us inextricable" (42).