Beatrice is a sixteen-year-old girl raised in the selfless Abnegation faction. Feeling she lacks natural selflessness, she questions her identity and the impending choice of which faction she will spend the rest of her life in. Small-framed but determined, she possesses a hidden resilience and a quiet curiosity that sets her apart from her peers.

Tobias is a reserved and highly skilled Dauntless training instructor. He guides the new transfer initiates through their demanding physical and emotional training. Valuing intelligence and genuine bravery over mindless brutality, he often clashes with the new, more vicious regime taking over the Dauntless faction.

Jeanine is the sole Erudite representative on the city council. Composed, intelligent, and highly logical, she views human behavior as a series of problems to be solved. She authors damning reports about the Abnegation faction, seeking to disrupt their governing power and assert Erudite's intellectual superiority.

Eric is a ruthless and intimidating Dauntless leader who transferred from the Erudite faction. He prioritizes brutality and extreme competition, frequently instituting harsh rules that weed out the weak. He is highly ambitious and demands absolute obedience from the new initiates.

Peter is a transfer initiate from the Candor faction who immediately establishes himself as a cruel and relentless bully. He thrives in the new, vicious Dauntless training environment, using psychological taunts and physical violence to climb the initiation rankings.

Caleb is Beatrice's older brother, who appears to be the model of an ideal Abnegation citizen. He is naturally helpful, constantly putting others before himself, though he occasionally displays an inquiring mind that suggests hidden depths.

Andrew is Beatrice and Caleb's father, who serves as an influential political leader on the city's governing council. He is deeply committed to the Abnegation values of selflessness and moral fortitude, making him a target for Erudite's increasingly aggressive smear campaigns.

Natalie is Beatrice and Caleb's mother. She works for the government and projects a peaceful, selfless demeanor typical of Abnegation. However, she displays an unconditional love for her children that sometimes supersedes strict faction expectations.

Christina is a candid, outspoken transfer initiate from the Candor faction. She quickly bonds with Beatrice on the train to the Dauntless compound. Used to voicing her exact thoughts without hesitation, she brings a refreshing, if blunt, honesty to her friendships.

Will is a transfer initiate from Erudite who joins Beatrice's friend group in Dauntless. He retains much of his former faction's logical thinking and vast memorization skills, often quoting faction manifestos and analyzing the political tensions in the city.

Al is a large but gentle transfer initiate from the Candor faction. Despite his physical size, he lacks the aggressive drive required for Dauntless training. He believes true bravery lies in protecting others, making him struggle deeply with the brutal combat exercises.

Molly is a tall and physically imposing transfer initiate from Candor. She forms an alliance with Peter and Drew, eagerly participating in their cruel tactics and using her strength to dominate weaker initiates in the fighting ring.

Drew is a Candor transfer initiate who acts as one of Peter's main sidekicks. He relies on numbers and alliances to succeed, generally following Peter's lead in harassing other recruits.

Marcus is an influential and prominent leader on the Abnegation city council. He serves as the primary target of Erudite's smear campaign, facing severe public accusations regarding his personal conduct and leadership abilities.

Tori is a Dauntless woman who works at the tattoo parlor and administers aptitude tests. She possesses a hawk tattoo symbolizing her victory over her fear of the dark. She serves as an early source of crucial, albeit cryptic, guidance for Beatrice.

Edward is an Erudite transfer initiate with extensive prior martial arts training. His physical combat skills make him an early frontrunner in the Dauntless rankings, drawing the envy of aggressive competitors.

Myra is an Erudite transfer initiate who struggles with the physical demands of Dauntless training. She relies heavily on her relationship with Edward for support during the grueling initiation process.

Uriah is a friendly, energetic Dauntless-born initiate. He is welcoming to the transfer initiates and frequently organizes thrill-seeking activities, embodying the original, more joyous spirit of the Dauntless faction.

Marlene is a Dauntless-born initiate who exhibits an easygoing bravery. She happily participates in daring stunts and treats the transfer initiates with casual warmth.

Lynn is a serious, shaved-headed Dauntless-born initiate. She approaches training with intense focus and occasionally comments on the changing dynamics among the Dauntless leadership.

Zeke is a fully recognized Dauntless member and Uriah's older brother. He maintains a lighthearted demeanor and enjoys the chaotic, high-adrenaline lifestyle of his faction.

Shauna is a Dauntless member who previously received private combat lessons from the training instructors. She embodies the capable, self-assured nature of the older faction members.

Robert is a former Abnegation resident who transfers to the peaceful Amity faction. He encounters his old neighbors during a field trip and struggles to understand the brutal path chosen by Dauntless initiates.

Susan is a polite and traditional Abnegation girl. She serves as the ideal example of their faction's modesty and forms a quiet connection with her neighbor.

Lauren is a Dauntless instructor who manages the simulation phases of training for the native-born initiates. She uses her own historical fears to teach students how to process terror.