#9 - Outside Reading 3 - Red Rising Pt. 3

 As previously mentioned, the Reds in the story live underground on mars, mining helium. They believe that they do this mining to supply helium for a failing Earth full of people. In reality, the rest of humanity has built a highly functioning society spanning the Solar System, and the Reds are mining helium to power their successful world. The main character, Darrow, is a Red. He discovers that the surface of Mars is actually a flourishing city, and sets off to overthrow the entire color-based caste system. In order to do so, he must transform his body into the body of a Gold. This process is incredibly brutal and painful, but he comes out a stronger man on the other side and sees reality for what it truly is. This entire narrative arc is so strikingly similar to Plato’s allegory of the cave. The Reds are those inside the cave. The Golds (who keep them there) are the puppeteers. The lie about the purpose of helium is the shadow on the wall. It is not until Darrow shakes free of the chains and makes his way into the sunlight through trial and tribulation that the other reds have any hope of leaving the cave. I wonder if this comparison was intentional. Perhaps Pierce Brown’s story only seems this way to me since I am a fan of Plato. Brown, like Lewis with Narnia, may have unintentionally written a story inspired by his influences.

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