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In Divergent, a caste system exists in the form of the faction system. Citizens of the world in Divergent are first born into a faction and then allowed to choose which preexisting faction they join upon their sixteenth birthdays. However, just choosing one faction or another does not suffice; new inductees must first pass initiation in order to be accepted into their chosen faction. Upon acceptance, people are then able to choose a job from the small variety available to their faction and will usually never fraternize outside of their faction. Though the citizens are classified into groups, however, it is less as a system for social stratification and more as a system of virtue, efficiency, and organization.
Particularly in India, caste systems have served as a basis for social stratification in history. They have allowed for the classification of people into groups and, accordingly, a more organized system. In Hinduism, it is widely accepted that people born into one social class or another are there based on their previous lives and the system of karma. Contrary to the idea of being able to choose one's social group, Hinduism provides the idea that rising or falling in social class is based on your actions in a previous life; thus, if you want to rise in society, you must be virtuous and moral in this life so that the next one will be better. This tenet of Hinduism may, however, directly relate to the process of initiation in Divergent in that you must prove yourself in order to be accepted into a group. Furthermore, the idea of job specialization is also present in both the novel and Hinduism in that both feature different jobs based on the group one is a part of. Divergent presents a system with less social stratification than that which is present in Hinduism but it does serve as means of tension between factions which is clearly seen between members of Abnegation and Erudite. The Erudite see themselves as superior to all other factions which can also be identified as a theme in Hinduism with the Brahmins, the highest caste. In regards to the lowest class, both Divergent and the Hindu system of belief show a group of people who have inherently been banished from society and live with poor conditions. In Divergent, the people of this group are known as factionless while in Hinduism they are called the Untouchables or Pariahs. Additionally, in both cases, it is unacceptable for people to marry between castes or factions; they must marry within their social group.
Particularly in India, caste systems have served as a basis for social stratification in history. They have allowed for the classification of people into groups and, accordingly, a more organized system. In Hinduism, it is widely accepted that people born into one social class or another are there based on their previous lives and the system of karma. Contrary to the idea of being able to choose one's social group, Hinduism provides the idea that rising or falling in social class is based on your actions in a previous life; thus, if you want to rise in society, you must be virtuous and moral in this life so that the next one will be better. This tenet of Hinduism may, however, directly relate to the process of initiation in Divergent in that you must prove yourself in order to be accepted into a group. Furthermore, the idea of job specialization is also present in both the novel and Hinduism in that both feature different jobs based on the group one is a part of. Divergent presents a system with less social stratification than that which is present in Hinduism but it does serve as means of tension between factions which is clearly seen between members of Abnegation and Erudite. The Erudite see themselves as superior to all other factions which can also be identified as a theme in Hinduism with the Brahmins, the highest caste. In regards to the lowest class, both Divergent and the Hindu system of belief show a group of people who have inherently been banished from society and live with poor conditions. In Divergent, the people of this group are known as factionless while in Hinduism they are called the Untouchables or Pariahs. Additionally, in both cases, it is unacceptable for people to marry between castes or factions; they must marry within their social group.
