Scottish Country Dance of the Day

Redheads have long occupied a special place in literature, where they are rarely written as forgettable background characters. Authors across centuries often used red hair as a kind of literary shorthand for individuality, energy, intelligence, mischief, independence, or emotional intensity. In paintings and stories alike, a flash of copper or auburn hair immediately drew attention, helping characters stand apart from the crowd long before modern color film or special effects.

Some of literature’s most beloved heroines are famously redheaded. Perhaps the best known is Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables, whose temper over jokes about her hair became nearly as legendary as her imagination and vocabulary. Pippi from Pippi Longstocking brought another kind of redheaded energy to children’s literature: fearless, unconventional, enormously strong, and entirely uninterested in behaving the way society expected. Even Nancy Drew, often described with titian or reddish-blonde hair, carried that same literary tradition of confidence and determination.

In fantasy and adventure fiction, redheads frequently become memorable rebels, warriors, or outsiders. Ygritte from A Song of Ice and Fire is fiery in both appearance and personality, while the red-haired Weasley family from Harry Potter are portrayed as warm, loyal, humorous, and courageous despite their chaotic household. Comic books also embraced the visual drama of red hair, giving readers characters like Poison Ivy, whose vivid coloring practically announces trouble before she even speaks.

Animation has certainly embraced the tradition too. Merida from Brave practically turned wild red curls into a personality trait all their own. Independent, adventurous, stubborn, and fiercely loyal, she fits neatly into the long literary tradition of memorable redheaded heroines who refuse to quietly follow the expected path. Ariel from The Little Mermaid also helped cement the image of the spirited animated redhead for an entire generation.

Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite artists helped reinforce the romantic fascination with red hair as well. Paintings from the 19th century often portrayed women with cascading auburn hair as mysterious, intellectual, artistic, or slightly untamed. That aesthetic carried directly into literature, where redheaded characters became associated with passion, creativity, and strong personalities rather than quiet conformity.

Perhaps that is why redheads remain so memorable in fiction. Writers tend to reserve striking physical descriptions for characters they want readers to notice immediately. Blonde heroines may come and go, brunettes may quietly solve problems in the background, but literary redheads often arrive with a spark of individuality that practically announces, “Pay attention — this character is going to do something interesting.”

For more on the portrayals of red-haired heroines in film and television,  click the red-haired Pippi Longstocking from the film version.