68 pages 2 hours read

Pierce Brown

Golden Son

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2015

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Symbols & Motifs

Pegasus Pendant

The Pegasus pendant that Darrow received in the first book of the series serves as a multifaceted symbol of both Darrow’s false identity and his secret mission. Darrow wears the pendant as a necklace, which opens when he says “Eo.” The Pegasus on the pendant is the sigil of the Andromedus family—who previously died in search of riches in the asteroid belt. Darrow describes the pendant as “the symbol of Andromedus, [his] false Gold family. But the symbol reminds [him] of Eo. She pointed out the Andromeda Galaxy to [him] before she died” (250). Outwardly, the Pegasus pendant is a symbol that supports Darrow’s false connection to the Andromedus family, but privately, it’s also a symbol of Eo’s love for Darrow and her dream of freedom; it becomes a totem Darrow uses to remember why he is fighting against the Society.

Razor

Razors are advanced weapons that only Golds are allowed to carry. They appear throughout the story, forming a motif that supports the theme of A Society Built on Oppression and Exploitation. The razors act as another distinction between Golds and the other Colors, with Golds receiving exclusive use of the advanced technological weapons—a visual representation of their social superiority.