The Red Rising Hierarchy Explained

Pierce Brown has said that the inspiration for Red Rising’s color-coded caste system came from Plato’s Republic and its idea that some people are born with “souls of gold, copper, iron,” each naturally suited to a role in society. In Plato’s ideal world, the “iron” souls labor while the “gold” souls rule, a structure meant to be meritocratic. Brown became fascinated with what would happen if that ideal became corrupted – when power, birthright, and control replaced merit – and he transformed this concept into a future in which humanity, after spreading across the solar system, becomes locked into rigid genetic castes known as Colors.

Originally, the Colors were simply markers of social role, little more than uniforms. Over generations, however, the ruling Golds reshaped the system through genetic engineering, designing each Color to be biologically suited for their assigned function. As a result, the hierarchy became not only social but physical, closing off the possibility of natural upward mobility.

For example, Obsidians are bred to be massive, strong, and physically imposing so they can serve as elite soldiers and bodyguards. Reds, the manual laborers, are engineered to be smaller, which means they require fewer resources and can fit easily into mine shafts. Golds are sculpted to be tall, hyper-intelligent, and incredibly strong, built to embody the myth of their inherent superiority.

Each Color develops its own dialects, customs, and belief systems, further strengthening the divides between them. Social engineering reinforces these boundaries: Obsidians are raised to believe Golds are literal gods, ensuring obedience; Reds are conditioned to be heterosexual, family-oriented, and to reproduce at very young ages to maintain a large labor force. Throughout the series, some low-Color individuals remain loyal to Gold authority when given a real chance to rebel, underscoring the system’s deep-rootedness.

By shifting the basis of discrimination from race or ethnicity to engineered caste, Brown examines how inequality can manifest in different forms. Ultimately, the Color hierarchy becomes his vehicle for exploring themes such as revolutions, oppression, systemic power, and personal identity.

HighColors — The ruling and professional elite

• Golds: Rulers of the Society
• Silvers: Financiers and business leaders
• Whites: Clergy and judges
• Coppers: Administrators, lawyers, bureaucrats

MidColors — Skilled specialists and technical classes

• Blues: Bridge crews and pilots
• Yellows: Doctors and researchers
• Greens: Programmers and technicians
• Violets: Artisans and creatives
• Oranges: Mechanics and engineers
• Grays: Soldiers and police

LowColors — Labor, service, and enforced subservience

• Browns: Servants, cooks, janitors
• Obsidians: Elite soldiers and bodyguards
• Pinks: Pleasure slaves and social functionaries
• Reds: Laborers and miners

HighColors 

Golds are the rulers and military leaders of the Society, holding absolute authority. They are tall, strong, highly intelligent, and loyal to their Color. Golds were created to lead humanity’s expansion and were refined over generations to maintain hierarchical dominance and control over all other Colors.

Silvers are financiers, economists, and business leaders of the Society, managing banking, trade, and the flow of resources across the solar system. They are methodical and refined. Silvers emerged during early expansion when large-scale interplanetary trade required a specialized caste to regulate economic stability.

Whites are judges, clergy, and interpreters of doctrine, overseeing moral and legal decisions throughout the Society. They are disciplined and highly logical. Whites originated from early legal scholars and religious authorities and were refined into a caste tasked with preserving the Society’s hierarchical structure and values.

Coppers are administrators, lawyers, record keepers, and managers, operating the bureaucracy of the Society. They are procedural and detail-oriented. Coppers developed from early colonial administrators and were later refined for cognitive endurance and administrative efficiency to maintain the Society’s complex interplanetary governance.

MidColors

Blues are starship pilots, navigators, and bridge crews, guiding fleets and maintaining communication. They are highly analytical and capable of multitasking with near-perfect accuracy. Blues originated from early spacefarers during the first interplanetary missions and were later refined into a caste for navigation, orbital mechanics, and piloting complex vessels.

Yellows are doctors, surgeons, and genetic specialists, maintaining the health and biological stability of every Color. They possess steady hands and emotional composure. Yellows developed from early medical personnel overseeing colony health and were refined into a caste for handling trauma, surgery, and high-stress research.

Greens are programmers, technicians, and system operators responsible for maintaining the Society’s digital and technical infrastructure. They are optimized for logic, pattern recognition, and extended focus. Greens evolved from early computing and communications experts and were refined into a caste for data management, automation, and digital security.

Violets are artists, designers, musicians, and cultural innovators, shaping the Society’s aesthetics and creative expression. They are imaginative and expressive. Violets originated from early cultural creators during colonization and were refined into a caste for creativity and unconventional problem-solving.

Oranges are mechanics, engineers, and technical laborers responsible for maintaining machinery, starships, and infrastructure. They are hands-on and skilled at repairing complex systems. Oranges were developed from early engineers and technicians and were refined into a caste to ensure the Society’s technology remained operational and efficient.

Grays are soldiers, police, and security personnel, enforcing law and order across the Society. They are disciplined and loyal, capable of handling situations with endurance and pragmatism. Grays developed from early colonial security forces and were refined into a caste designed to maintain stability as the divider between LowColors and the rest of society.

LowColors

Browns are domestic workers, cooks, cleaners, and service staff, performing the essential labor that keeps households, institutions, and public spaces functioning. They are reliable and unobtrusive. Browns originated from early support personnel and were refined into a caste designed to sustain the higher Colors without challenging the social hierarchy.

Obsidians serve as elite soldiers and bodyguards, undertaking combat and protecting the upper classes. They are strong and physically formidable, with training that emphasizes loyalty, obedience, and martial skill. Obsidians were originally bred to survive extreme environments and later indoctrinated as warriors, isolated from modern knowledge, and conditioned to view Golds as divine figures.

Pinks are pleasure attendants, social companions, and entertainers for the Society’s upper classes, providing emotional and social support. They are graceful and trained in charm, performance, and social intuition. Pinks developed from hospitality and entertainment roles and were refined into a caste designed to fulfill the desires of higher Colors.

Reds are miners, laborers, and manual workers, forming the backbone of the Society’s resource extraction and construction efforts. They are smaller, with a strong cultural emphasis on family, community, and endurance. Reds were genetically designed for hard work in harsh conditions, particularly underground mines and terraforming projects, providing the raw materials that sustain the Society’s expansion and interplanetary colonies.