Red Mars

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of death.

As the novel’s title suggests, Mars plays a pivotal role in the story. It’s not just the setting for the narrative; a version of Mars exists beyond the physical planet. From Part 2 onward, characters come to regard Mars as a symbol of opportunity. As Arkady suggests aboard the Ares, Mars is a chance to build a new society, free from the constraints and mistakes of Earth. Mars is more than just a planet; it represents the potential of the human race, a blank slate for the design of a new human society. In this sense, Mars represents the ambition and optimism of those aboard the Ares. While they may differ on their personal views of what Mars could become, they’re unified in their belief that it represents a historic opportunity for their species. Consequently, the 100 making the journey consciously treat Mars as such. They understand the symbolism of their mission and of their destination.

However, the colonists have competing visions for the planet’s future. The 100 disagree about how Martian society should function. Not everyone buys into Arkady’s vision of a social utopia, for example.