Why Do Other Characters Trust Four From Divergent In Divergent?

I've always been a bit of a pedant when it comes to book details, so this little age question about Tobias — the guy everyone calls Four — always pulls me in. In 'Divergent' he's 16 at the start of the story. That fits with the whole faction-choice system: everyone goes to the Choosing Ceremony when they're sixteen, and Tobias's backstory about transferring into Dauntless aligns with that timeline. He and Tris are essentially the same age cohort, even if he carries himself older and quieter than a typical sixteen-year-old. If you're coming from the movie, it's easy to get confused: actors often end up older than the characters they play. Theo James was in his late twenties during filming, so on-screen Four feels more mature. The book, though, drops clues — the initiates' age, the way characters reference the Choosing Ceremony, and occasional mentions of being the same age as peers — all point to Tobias being around 16. I love how Roth writes him as older in attitude without actually aging him up on the page. It makes the dynamic with Tris feel intense but believable. So, short and canon-friendly: Four is sixteen at the beginning of 'Divergent'. If you want, I can dig up specific quotes from the book that hint at this timeline; I've dog-eared this series enough that I can probably find them while sipping coffee and pretending I'm studying literature.

I get nerdy about little details like this, so here's what I noticed after rewatching 'Divergent' and skimming through promo shots: Tobias (Four) as played by Theo James doesn’t walk around plastered in ink the way some comic-book heroes do, but he does have a few distinct, deliberately minimal tattoos. The most visible elements across the films are dark, geometric marks across his chest and shoulders and a pattern of short vertical strokes/dots near his collarbone—fans often read those as symbolic of his name, Four, or as a nod to the number of fears he famously had. Those small marks are subtle and sometimes hidden under clothing, which is probably why they feel a bit mysterious. There’s also a larger, angular design that appears across his upper back/shoulder area in several scenes and promotional images; it's not a full sleeve or an ornate motif, more of a stark, Dauntless-feeling pattern—clean, black, and tribal/industrial in vibe. The films treat the tattoos like part of his Dauntless identity rather than as plot items, so the makeup and placement are primarily for aesthetic grit. If you hunt behind-the-scenes pics, you’ll see small variations between takes and promo art, which makes sense since a lot was temporary body paint rather than permanent ink.

I was glued to the casting news back when the first 'Divergent' film was coming together, and the name that kept popping up was Theo James. He plays Tobias Eaton — the brooding, guarded guy everyone calls Four — opposite Shailene Woodley’s Tris. What sold me was the chemistry footage and the way he carried the physicality of the role: quiet, controlled, and dangerous just under the surface. Watching the movie later, I kept thinking about how his slightly rough British accent and calm intensity matched the book version's vibe. He ended up sticking with the franchise for the sequels 'Insurgent' and 'Allegiant', which helped solidify that image for fans. If you’re revisiting the films, try paying attention to little choices he makes in scenes of restraint — they say a lot without shouting, and that’s why I think he was a great pick for Four.

I still get a little thrill whenever I think about that reveal in 'Divergent'—it felt like finding a secret name tag on someone you already liked. His real name is Tobias Eaton. In the books he’s almost always called Four, but Tobias is the name that ties him to his Abnegation roots and the family backstory that shapes so much of his personality. I love how the books let you peel layers off him. Four’s nickname comes up early and he explains why he’s called that (it’s something he earned, not just a random label), and then you slowly learn about his upbringing, his dad, and why he’s so guarded. The contrast between Tobias and Four—one name for a kid from Abnegation, the other the hardened Dauntless instructor—still gives me chills when I reread their scenes together. If you’re revisiting 'Divergent' or showing someone the series for the first time, keep an ear out for how often the narrative flips between Tobias’s private life and his public persona; it’s one of those details that makes the books stick with you long after the last page.

I get a little giddy whenever I talk about this — a lot of the scenes featuring Four in 'Divergent' were shot right in the heart of Chicago, with plenty of exterior stuff using the city's streets, bridges, and riverbanks to sell that dense, urban-but-stripped-down dystopia. Beyond the on-location exteriors in downtown Chicago and nearby neighborhoods, the production moved to studio spaces in Los Angeles for lots of the interior work and tougher stunt set pieces. So when you see close-up training scenes or more complex action beats with harnesses and rigs, those were often done on soundstages where the crew could control the environment. I love spotting the real Chicago skyline in wide shots and then realizing the hand-to-hand sequence was pieced together on a set — it’s a neat mix of real city grit and crafted movie magic.

If you flip ahead to the Dauntless portion of 'Divergent', that’s basically where Four makes his first proper entrance. Tris (Beatrice) spends the very opening chapters with her Abnegation life, the aptitude test, and the Choosing Ceremony — but Four shows up shortly after she moves to Dauntless, during the initiation/training section. The earliest scenes where he matters are the fear-simulation bits and the training yard: he’s introduced as a quiet, intense instructor who doesn’t waste words, and one of the first times you really notice him is when he pulls Tris out of the simulation and stands apart from the other trainers. It hit me like a quiet jolt the first time I realized his presence wasn’t just background. He’s not introduced in her childhood memories or at the family table — he arrives as part of the new life she’s thrown into, so his first scenes feel like the book shifting gears. If you’re skimming to find him, look through the chapters that cover the initial Dauntless initiation and the fear landscape: that’s his debut spot, and it’s the start of a lot more layered interactions as Tobias (Four) becomes central to Tris’ arc.

In 'Divergent,' Four, or Tobias Eaton, stands out as such a compelling character, and his impact on those around him is phenomenal. When I think about his influence, I look at how he drives Tris’s evolution. From the beginning, Tris is this unsure girl with a lot of potential but also a bunch of doubts. Four recognizes her strengths, sees the Divergent in her that others fear, and that sparks something in Tris. She starts believing in herself and embracing her true identity, which is such a beautiful arc. His acceptance of her not only propels her journey but also challenges her to make bold choices that ultimately affect the faction system as a whole. When you look at other characters, you can see how they react to Four as well. Peter, for example, is driven by jealousy and fear; he wants to undermine both Tris and Four, which showcases how Four raises the stakes in the narrative. It’s interesting how even characters like Christina and Will show growth by adopting some of his courage and strength against the oppressive factions. Four's complexity and his own struggles bleed into their choices, illustrating how vital he is to the narrative fabric of 'Divergent.' You can sense that through how others gravitate toward his character, hinting that they want to emulate his bravery, even if it comes with risk. In a way, Four acts as a catalyst. Without him, the journey of the other characters would have felt far less electrifying and impactful, highlighting the role of strong mentorship in personal growth and revolution within the series. The way he juxtaposes vulnerability with strength serves as a reminder that true leadership often comes from being open and imperfect—and that resonates on so many levels in life!

When the posters for 'Divergent' started popping up everywhere, I practically sprinted to the theater — and the guy who plays Four totally sold it for me. Theo James is the actor behind Tobias 'Four' Eaton throughout the movie series: he debuts as the stern, brooding instructor in 'Divergent' and then reprises the role in 'Insurgent' and 'Allegiant'. His British accent and that low, controlled intensity fit the character so well that the page-to-screen transition felt natural, not forced. I still get chills thinking about the quieter moments between Four and Tris; Theo’s performance made those scenes believable in a way that kept me invested even when the plot got messy. I’m the sort of person who notices little things — the way an actor uses a look to carry emotion, or how fight choreography reveals character — and Theo brought a physicality to Four that matched Veronica Roth’s description: disciplined, wary, and gradually more open. Casting him was a win for the films, in my opinion, and even though the franchise's later plans hit bumps, his portrayal remains the standout. If you’re revisiting the series or curious about the actor, watch his scenes back-to-back; you’ll see how consistent and grounded he is as Four, and why so many fans shipped him with Tris. After watching the trilogy again last month, I caught myself rooting for him all over — that’s the mark of a role well-played, and Theo made Four feel like someone you’d follow into the Dauntless compound or a heated debate about faction loyalty.