“Red Rising” follows the story of a dystopian society with a 14-tier color system. Darrow is born as a Red, the lowest caste in a 14-tier color system. He lives in extreme poverty while the Golds, the highest caste, live in absolute affluence. Along with struggling to survive as a Red, Darrow has to navigate the harsh Martian landscape, which poses many challenges: being eaten alive, burning to death or simply being hung for treason.
Pierce Brown, the author of “Red Rising,” created a world of separation that subsequently sparked the idea of revolution. Brown’s style of writing solely relied on explicit storytelling, but his choice of language created heavy emotion. The dialogue from characters such as Eo is heartfelt and compelling to Darrow as well as the audience. She wishes for her husband, Darrow, to “live for more” just before her death sentence.
The characters readers saw in the first six chapters set a stage for Darrow’s perspective, which is soon challenged through the inciting incident. After his wife is hanged, Darrow buries her (an illegal act) and is soon hung for his crime. Instead of finding death, he wakes up and is ushered to the surface of Mars by Rebel-Reds.
These newfound companions share the idea of revolution with Darrow, as he realizes the Gold caste lives in luxury while the Reds remain enslaved unknowingly. The rest of the novel follows Darrow’s journey as he is transformed into a Gold. He is sent to infiltrate a Gold academy and eventually become a member of high society to covertly aid the rebel cause.
While this may seem like the classic dystopian book, Brown crafted a world of a sci-fi future full of internal conflict. “Red Rising is so much more than books like ‘The Hunger Games’ and ‘Divergent.’ It’s a harsh reality that is supported by the emotional trauma of the main characters,” said senior Abby Howell. Darrow faces his true self as he struggles against the moralities of Golds and Reds. His journey is one of friendship and sacrifice as he evolves into a leader.
His integration into high society is a comparison of individuals today who change themselves to fit a desired demographic. However, the separation of color castes also has a double meaning. “The world in the book feels very extreme, but it’s scary to think how much it relates to today,” said senior Kailee Wilson. “The treatment of lower classes seems like a mirror to how people can be trapped in systems. The levels of status in colors are like how we have a low, middle and high class.”
In a world set 700 years in the future, it’s still hard to shake today’s stereotypes and expectations. Darrow’s character embodies people today who try to mold themselves into something they are not. His characterization highlights these issues and also creates depth in the novel.
For many readers, the book’s great storytelling and interesting plot have been intriguing. “I’m only through three-fourths of the book, but so far it has been super good. It is unlike most books I have read before,” said Wilson.
While “Red Rising” is classified in the young adult or sci-fi genres, it contains mature themes that many high-schoolers are unfamiliar with. For some, the novel may be deeply disturbing, as well as the four books that follow it. Even if it is not for all readers, this book shows revealing ideas that represent an oppressive society. “Red Rising” is a reminder that everything is not what it seems, and leadership is not always fair control.
