The Color Red
The color red holds great symbolic meaning across cultures. In many societies, red represents passion, aggression, and danger. But red can also signify joy, luck, and celebration. Red draws attention like no other color – it’s bold, dynamic, and impossible to ignore. Throughout history, the color red has been associated with power, prestige, royalty, and wealth.
Red pigments were among the first colors used by prehistoric humans in cave paintings and rituals. In ancient China, red was the color of fire, symbolizing good fortune and happiness. Chinese brides traditionally wear red wedding dresses, and red envelopes with money are given as gifts at weddings, holidays, and special occasions.
In ancient Rome, the nobility were literally called the “reds” (rubricati), as they could afford expensive dyed red cloth. Red was the color of the Roman emperor and military – soldiers proudly wore red capes and cloaks. The gladiators who fought to the death in Roman amphitheaters did so in red sand, which wicked up their blood.
Red holds ambivalent meanings across cultures related to love and war. It is both the color of the heart, representing romantic love, and the color of blood, symbolizing violence and aggression. In Christianity, red represents the blood of Christ and the sacrifice of martyrs. It is used in paintings of Christ’s crucifixion and religious vestments.
In modern times, red retains its sacred and profane associations. Red is the color of fiery passion and desire. But it also warns us of danger, as in the red STOP sign. The color has contradictory connotations of love and war, life and death, good luck and warning.
Writings in Red
Throughout history, there are many significant examples of people who wrote or highlighted passages in the color red. Here are some notable examples:
The Red Letter Bible
In some Christian Bibles, the words of Jesus are printed in red ink. This tradition began in 1899, when the publisher Louis Klopsch printed a Bible with the words attributed to Jesus in red letters. He believed this would help readers clearly see the teachings of Christ and apply them to their lives. Red letter Bibles are still popular today among some Christian denominations.
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
This 1850 novel centers around Hester Prynne, a married woman in Puritan Boston who has an affair and gives birth to an illegitimate child. As punishment for adultery, she is forced to wear a scarlet-colored “A” embroidered on her dress. The scarlet letter represents her sin and shame. The novel explores guilt, legalism, and public humiliation in colonial America.
The Red Wheel by Alexander Solzhenitsyn
This massive work by the Russian writer depicts the Russian Revolution and its aftermath. Solzhenitsyn wrote much of the manuscript in red pen or pencil, believing the color red represented the blood spilled during this violent revolutionary period. The story examines how ideology and fanaticism led to totalitarian oppression in the Soviet Union. Though Solzhenitsyn died before completing it, The Red Wheel spans over 2,000 pages.
The Beatles’ White Album
Though titled “The Beatles,” this 1968 double album has been known as the White Album since its release. While the cover appears purely white, the record’s sleeve contains faint red lettering with the band’s name embossed at an angle. The red lettering is an understated graphic touch hinting at the experimental nature of this eclectic pop music masterpiece.
The Scarlet Letter reports
During certain tumultuous periods in China’s history, political dissidents and controversial officials were criticized in Scarlet Letter reports circulated publicly or within the Communist Party. The reports, named after Hawthorne’s novel, exposed corrupt officials and their misdeeds in red lettering as a form of public shaming. They were notably used during the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s-70s.
Historical Figures Who Wrote in Red
In addition to the famous literary works mentioned, many historical leaders and thinkers used red ink or editing notations:
Julius Caesar
When reviewing scrolls, the Roman general and dictator Caesar used red ink to mark sections needing revision. He would also correct errors by overlaying new red wax over the mistake. Hence the phrase “Caesar red” referring to edits in red ink.
Thomas Jefferson
America’s third president edited drafts of the Declaration of Independence in red ink. His revisions tightened the language and strengthened the document’s impact. Jefferson also later used red wax seals to authenticate his correspondence.
Charlotte Brontë
The English novelist who wrote Jane Eyre, Brontë proofread her manuscripts by dipping a brush in red ink and striking through weak passages and errors. She called this her “butchering work” as she pruned and improved the writing.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
As president during the Great Depression and World War II, Roosevelt used red pencils to edit drafts of his famous Fireside Chat radio speeches. FDR would personally revise drafts to simplify the language and directly connect with listeners across America.
Queen Elizabeth II
The longest reigning British monarch still reviews government documents in red boxes delivered daily. She provides feedback by underlining portions in red ink. The “red box papers” allow the queen to stay informed and comment on parliamentary affairs.
Vladimir Nabokov
The Russian-American novelist of Lolita masterfully revised drafts of his intricate novels in red pen. Meticulously choosing each word, his red-inked edits strengthened his elaborate literary style and narrative precision.
Famous Red Ink Users Today
Many contemporary leaders and celebrities continue the tradition of editing in red:
J.K. Rowling
The billionaire author of the Harry Potter series still prefers red pens over laptops when revising her latest novels. She edits plot holes, inconsistencies, and problems in red ink on printed manuscripts.
Stephen King
The prolific and successful horror writer edits his terrifying drafts with a red Flair pen. King focuses on tightening prose, removing adverbs, and improving pacing with his red ink markings.
Elton John
Before recording albums, the pop music legend will mark up arrangements and lyrics in red pen. This helps refine songs, modifying structures and chord changes to better suit his vision.
Tim Cook
The CEO of Apple Inc. responds to emails and annotates reports with red ink edits in his distinct, perfectly neat handwriting. The red marks provide feedback to improve company communications.
Mark Zuckerberg
Known for his preference for gray T-shirts, the CEO of Meta (Facebook) nevertheless edits company documents in bright red pen. His edits shape policies and products for Meta’s apps used by billions.
Scientific Discoveries Written in Red
Red ink has not just been used by writers and leaders, but also scientists and inventors:
Isaac Newton
ThisBritish physicist wrote his revolutionary work Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica outlining gravity and laws of motion in red ink with black and blue diagrams. The red stood out on the handwritten pages.
Michael Faraday
The pioneering English scientist recorded groundbreaking discoveries in electromagnetism and chemistry in laboratory notebooks handwritten in red ink. His red-ink diagrams tracked electrical currents and breakthroughs.
Albert Einstein
Einstein’s original manuscripts describing the theory of relativity are handwritten in red ink, with black ink revisions. The red allowed Einstein to distinguish new concepts as he formulated his physics-altering ideas.
Louis Pasteur
This French microbiologist famously debunked the myth of spontaneous generation by swan neck flask experiments. His red-inked lab notes mapped bacteria growth, leading to pasteurization and vaccines.
Rosalind Franklin
This pioneering English chemist captured Photograph 51, an x-ray diffraction image allowing deduction of DNA’s double helix. Her red-inked analysis notes were key to comprehending DNA’s structure.
Red Ink in Religion and Myth
Red ink and annotation have religious and mythological associations across cultures:
Hindu and Buddhist Texts
Ancient religious scriptures and scriptures in India and Tibet are often printed with red illuminated first letters on each page. Red conveys sanctity and spiritual energy.
Egyptian Book of the Dead
Spells and incantations in this ancient Egyptian funerary text were written in red ink made from oxidized iron and ochre. Red carried magical powers in life and death.
Book of Kells
This ornately illustrated 8th century Irish gospel book contains red ink embellishments. Red represented Christ’s blood and the book’s sanctity. The vibrant red has endured over 1200 years.
Codex Gigas
Nicknamed the Devil’s Bible, this 13th century manuscript has a large red devil portrait. Red represented Hell and Satan’s perceived involvement in creating this mysterious book.
Ancient Greece
In Greek myths, red ink was linked to blood and life force. Gods were depicted recording mortal fates with red ink, cementing their destiny.
Why Red Ink Sticks Out
But why has the color red been favored throughout history for emphasis and edits? Here are some scientific reasons:
Attention-Getting
Our eyes are drawn to warmer, longer wavelengths like red on the light spectrum. Red markings pop against black text or white paper, making them hard to overlook.
Contrast
Red absorbs green/blue light, providing maximal contrast against dark text and backgrounds. The high visual contrast sets red edits apart.
Urgency
Red is associated with urgency, danger, or errors. This gives red ink an instant power for highlighting critical changes and mistakes.
Clarity
Red pigments provide crisp lines on rough surfaces like papyrus or parchment. Black inks can appear broken or blurred.
Authority
Red signifies leadership, prestige, and power. When judges, rulers, and executives mark in red, their edits carry authority.
Symbolism
Red’s link to blood, sacrifice, passion, and sanctity gives it symbolic weight. Red ink marks have conveyed deeper meaning throughout history.
| Historical Figure | Field | Used Red Ink For |
|---|---|---|
| Julius Caesar | Roman emperor | Editing scrolls |
| Thomas Jefferson | American president | Revising Declaration of Independence drafts |
| Charlotte Bronte | British novelist | Proofreading manuscripts |
Conclusion
In summary, red ink and text have carried special meaning and emphasis across world cultures for thousands of years. The eye-catching color allows writers, leaders, scientists, and religious figures to highlight important ideas, make revisions, and symbolize concepts like passion, danger, sanctity, and power through red annotations. Red ink has a rich history of calling attention to critical details in writing, religion, politics, and scientific discovery thanks to its high visual contrast and ability to stick in our memories. So next time you see red edits on a document, recall this color’s long and storied past.
