“Harry Potter” and “Divergent”: Dauntless

by Lizzie Sudlow · June 4, 2015

One choice will define you.

Both the Harry Potter and Divergent series use unique concepts of character placement. In Harry Potter, 11-year-old witches and wizards rely on the Sorting Hat to assign which House they will reside in and identify with for the rest of their lives. On the other hand, in Divergent, all 16-year-olds are brought together for the Choosing Ceremony where they decide if they wish to stay with their natural-born faction or transfer to a new life. Either way, no take-backsies. The characters of Harry Potter are told where they belong based on the Hat’s insight into their minds, while the characters of Divergent take an aptitude test which determines the path they should choose, though they have the freedom to choose otherwise. If Harry Potter characters were given an aptitude test, what would their results be? Or rather, where would our beloved characters choose to live in the Divergent society?

Who would choose to join Dauntless? In the first novel, readers find that the Dauntless can be characterized as protectors and soldiers. They are people who become the police force. They are brave, fearless, and free. The Dauntless Manifesto reads, “We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another… We believe in shouting for those who can only whisper, in defending those who cannot defend themselves.”

Below is a list of a few characters whom we believe would bleed over the burning coals in the Dauntless bowl at the Choosing Ceremony. These are the characters who strive to be indestructible and stand tall in the face of injustice. They are the Dauntless.

James Potter
As a character who comes from a background of police-like work since both of his parents were Aurors, Dauntless comes across as the most practical choice for James. From the knowledge we have of his character, we know that James was quite athletic since he played on the Gryffindor Quidditch team as a Chaser during his time at school. The training that comes along with being an athlete would transfer well to that of Dauntless as the extensive process during initiation relies heavily on the body and strength. Another quality is his intolerance for injustice as James found himself hexing other students when they made rude and nasty comments about others considered beneath them. James would refuse to let others be taken advantage of, which makes him perfect for Dauntless since he would make sure everyone was treated fair. A loyal friend who is willing to go the extra mile to show support, James chose to become an Animagus to assist Remus Lupin and his lycanthropy every full moon. Naturally, his bravery by joining the original Order of the Phoenix to fight against Voldemort and his cunning side where he impeccably pulled off pranks on other students is also evidence for how he would fit right in with Dauntless. James would do well in this faction and would easily be prepared to take that jump into the dark pit below.
Sirius Black
A known risk-taker, Dauntless would be a perfect place for Sirius Black. Dauntless thrive on doing things most others are terrified of. They zipline through the city, jump off of buildings and onto moving trains, and fight in hand-to-hand combat for fun. Sirius’s competitive nature and thrill-seeking behavior would be more than welcome in the excitement of Dauntless. His practical jokes would be the talk of the Pit, and his attitude is nothing but defiant. He does what he wants and has no regard for consequences. He is fearless, brash, and always ready for a fight. Dumbledore describes him in Order of the Phoenix: “Sirius was a brave, clever, and energetic man, and such men are not usually content to sit at home in hiding while they believe others to be in danger.” Sirius is a fierce protector, which would pair wonderfully with the duties of a Dauntless. He is incredibly loyal, another quality of Dauntless. When Sirius comes face-to-face with the traitorous Pettigrew, he explodes, “I would have died rather than betray my friends!” Dauntless are explosively emotional personality types, they do not fear death, and they absolutely do not tolerate disloyalty. Faction before blood. Sirius would excel in Dauntless and would not have hesitated for a second at the Choosing Ceremony.
Viktor Krum
We saw little of Krum, but if he does not scream Dauntless, then I don’t know what to tell you. Krum is similar to James in athleticism since he competed in the Quidditch World Cup at the age of 18 while still attending school. Krum participated in the Tri-Wizard Tournament during Goblet of Fire and quickly proved his talents, never shying away from any of the grueling and dangerous tasks. Krum gives off an aura of confidence that cannot be ignored, which would help him with an easy transition to the Dauntless lifestyle, refusing to let anyone else shake him or make him feel inferior. As a member of Dauntless, Krum would succeed in working alongside others. In the future I could see Krum leading the initiates through their training and being the tough mentor they need to survive.
Ginny Weasley
Being the youngest and only girl of seven, Ginny would feel the need to stand out, prove herself, and Dauntless would be the way to do so. Her character is a force to be reckoned with since she is strong willed and intelligent. Ginny is described as forceful, independent, and tough as a result of growing up with six brothers, so the Dauntless process would be simple for her (how tough could it be after growing up with six boys?). She is a character who is not afraid to go after what she wants; she later joins the Gryffindor Quidditch team and branches out of her House to make friends. Dauntless would be a great way for Ginny to shed that “baby sister” skin and develop into her own person after being forced to live up to her brothers’ past. I could imagine her only problem being the concept of faction before blood since Ginny may struggle with no longer communicating with her large family if they were in different factions. Dauntless would force Ginny to adapt, and she would assimilate with ease to then fall into a happy life for herself.
Tonks
DON’T call her Nymphadora. Tonks is a very outspoken and tough young woman, very much like the many women of Dauntless. She is a fierce fighter and battle-tested. She joined the Order of the Phoenix at a young age, ready to fight the evil-doers of the world and bring justice, qualities that would be in harmony with Dauntless values. She has no fear of death and willingly plunges into the greatest wizarding battle the world has ever seen. Dauntless would readily accept her with her bravery and skill. She is incredibly loyal to her friends and the Order and stays with them until the very end. Another embodiment of “Faction before Blood” that is the motto of post-apocalyptic Chicago.
Harry Potter
Harry Potter is the bravest of the brave. He faces every challenge with a “come at me, bro” attitude and never backs down. If they could, Dauntless would probably recruit him. Harry is athletic and a proven fighter through his Quidditch playing and many one-on-one encounters. He is a risk-taker like his father and godfather before him, taking out his Invisibility Cloak to cause trouble at Hogwarts. We can only imagine what trouble a Dauntless would cause with the same cover. He has no fear of death or physical pain and has personal experience with both. Dauntless barely consider someone a true member until they have the scars to prove it. He is fiercely loyal and wants to protect everyone around him, even those he doesn’t like, which is the heart and soul of the police work Dauntless does (disregarding Erudite mind control serum). If given the choice, Harry would undoubtedly choose Dauntless as his forever home because it represents qualities he respects and admires, qualities of his father and godfather that he modestly embodies as well.
Honorable Mention: Fred & George
Besides the fact that the twins would see Dauntless as the most impressive faction, the two of them never liked the rules anyway! They may join for the super cool outfits and reputation, but the initiation would force the two to get their act together and become the men they were born to be. When times got dark, the two showed they were capable of behaving maturely, which is a valued quality in the faction. In addition, Fred and George never hesitate to harass a classmate or professor for a laugh, and it would be good to have some jokesters down in the pit to break up the seriousness.