Red

History is always a bloody thing. Wherever you look, whenever you look. Yet, for some reason, we try to pretend it isn't. History is written by the victors, and the victors are always morally good. No matter the trail of tears forced to walk, the bear lodges burnt, the rivers that ran red. History is written by those who live to tell it. What's left behind is a hate song.

1880s America. Let's call it a turbulent time. I'm sure after that opening paragraph, you get the direction I'd go with that. Red is set in this turbulent time. Immigration is booming. The civil war ended not long ago. Young America is... manifesting their destiny, as it were. As a capsule in history, this time period would be the most interesting to find and tell real history. It's no secret that early America was privy to burning things down. Artifacts, bodies, books, anything inconvenient to what it wanted. Red is completely fictional, but the feelings it gets across are more than real.

Red is a story about vengeance. To never forgive and forget. Something preached about in the good book young America used. Red (the character, i know it's gonna be confusing) is the last of his tribe of indigenous Americans. The Wisa Sioux. They were initially promised what little freedom indigenous people were offered back then. A reservation. Forced to walk there no matter what, and forced to work and practice a new religion. It's better than death for sure, but the indigenous Americans were about as free as serfs in Russia. That is to say, not at all. The Wisa Sioux didn't make it to their reservation, however. Not even they were allowed that much. Every single Wisa was slaughtered by a single platoon. Except one. That one is Red. Named after the setting sun as bright as the color of blood. Red, of course, wants to avenge his tribe. Not much else goes on in his head. Not that he's a one-note character or doesn't have an arc, but Red believes himself to be a cursed soul. One destined to avenge his tribe despite his best efforts to live normally. He will avenge his tribe, his people, and the whole time he'll sing a hate song. A song for his tears, his people, and those he needs to kill.

White is usually thought of as the color representing purity. So you may find it strange that the character named White is anything but pure. She's evil in all the right ways. Devilish at gambling, uses her wiles to get what she wants, and slings a gun like no other. White doesn't always have to mean purity. Sometimes, it's more literal. A light to shine on those in the night. White is part of the small crew going with Red on his murder spree. Her role in the story is as simple as her name. She's the anchor, the guiding light, the one to go back to. I've always had a personal preference for characters like this in stories like this. Their role is usually pretty underappreciated as what they mostly do is not direct. White is usually fighting right alongside Red, i didn't describe her as a gunslinger for no reason. Her life is one of dried tears and starry nights. Left behind because of hate. Then left behind because of love. Her hate song is for herself and for those who believe themselves to be better than all.

And Blue is last. The main antagonist of this story. The one who killed the Wisa Sioux. Blue is most associated with the sky and the ocean. For emotions, it could be sadness. For some, people might think of tears when thinking of Blue. I'm not actually gonna talk about Blue much as a character since i think it's more interesting to learn about him as you read the story instead of hearing all about him here. You may have noticed a funny thing with Blue. Most of the main cast is named or nicknamed a color. Usually, that color having something to do with their personality, their story, or their role. Most important characters are named after a color. That color paints other characters with their own in a very literal way of saying how people affect each other. It's done rather well. Blue himself paints quite a few characters. Including himself. Blue's hate song is also for himself and the country. A song that inevitably everybody would hear.

Red (the story) is a great one. It pulls no punches for the time period it's set in. Bloody, dusty, and angry. Somebody thinks they're in the right, and the ones on the other side think those people are wrong. I think this message is unfortunately still prevalent. "This is a country that hasn't learned how to cry." Too many hate songs were left behind. We may forgive now, but forgetting is something we shouldn't do.