Darrow, the protagonist of Golden Son, was born a Red and married Eo, a rebel Red who was killed for singing the Forbidden Song. Darrow was sentenced to death for burying Eo but was saved by his uncle Narol and handed over to the Sons of Ares who turned him into a Gold. Darrow’s mission is to bring down the Society so the social order can be rebuilt on the principle of equality.

Because Darrow is a dynamic character, his arc takes him from a place of isolation to connection. The author defines Darrow’s character by his capacity for love and empathy, his resilience, and strong leadership skills. His primary flaw is his self-isolation. He remains guarded with everyone in his life in order to keep his true identity from being discovered; however, his relationships are damaged by his isolation. He realizes and corrects the issue by practicing trust and vulnerability among his friends, which increases their loyalty and bond. He fails to demonstrate the same vulnerability with Roque, their relationship suffers as a result, and Roque betrays him.