Allegory of the Class System
The class system in Red Queen acts as an allegory for the class system in our world: a small number of very wealthy people hold power over and exploit a larger number of very poor people. The wealthy (Silvers) have more privilege and think they're better than the poor (Reds), reflecting the way that the rich view the poor in our world.
The color red
The color red is a motif that shows up throughout the novel (including in its title, Red Queen), to show the significance of Mare's unique heritage. She is a Red with power, and her red blood is emphasized over and over again to show that the color of her blood makes her unique within her world.
Mare's sister's hand
Mare's sister's hand is crushed while she is working, which makes her unable to work and provide for her family. This injury acts as a symbol for the exploitation of the Reds by the Silvers and the horrible conditions the Reds are forced to work in in order to support their families. Mare's sister puts her health in danger in order to work and ends up permanently injured, but she receives no help from the government, which means that she is made even poorer by the working conditions that she was forced into because of poverty.
Mare Pickpocketing
Mare's early career as a pickpocket is another symbol of the terrible conditions that the Silvers put the Reds in. She has to steal at a young age in order to keep her family cared for, showing that there are almost no ways for Reds to keep themselves safe and alive, and that instead, they must turn to crime.
The earthquake display
When Cal's suitors are showing off their powers, Evangeline sets off an earthquake that makes Mare fall off the balcony and almost die. This earthquake is a symbol for the way that Mare's life immediately changes after the display, because her power is revealed and she is treated with more respect, because her life is literally shaken up the way that an earthquake shakes up things.
