The Martian Theme

The Martian, a novel written by Andy Weir reveals themes that are experienced by Mark Watney on Mars. There are different themes expressed throughout his journey. The theme develops from the start when all of his crew members got back successfully except him. He then travels across Mars in order to gain communication with Earth. The themes that are revolved around man vs nature are reflected not only in Mars but Earth as well to ensure Watney gets back safe. We are introduced to the theme between Watney and Mars at the start of the book when he realised he is left behind on Mars. His first person narrative diary entry shows that, “Everyone thinks I’m dead.” and “I had no way to talk to Hermes.” We come to realise that all of Watney’s crew members have left and he is all alone without anyone accompanying him throughout the journey. He feels isolated as he has no way of talking to anyone regardless of on Mars or Earth. Weir wanted to explore the possibilities of sending human to Mars.showing what would happen to a person physically and mentally as well. Weir cleverly shows isolation through the vacant emptiness in his circle of socialisation,stripping him away the privilege to interact. The theme develops later on when he tries to
compete for survival in the harsh environment that he is in. Through the listing, ”All around me there was nothing but dust,rocks and endless empty desert in every direction.” and “I sat down in the dirt and cried.” It is shown that he manages to cultivate potatoes, maintain enough water and oxygen to keep on surviving. Watney keeps on discovering new ways to prolong the supposedly duration till death. Weir wanted to explore the survival mechanism of man,and uses conditions beyond humane to show us what life is like on Mars. Survival is reflected when Watney tries to obtain the basic common needs of human as well as battle to cope with the sudden accidentals for example, the Hab exploding along the way. He got to breathe another day as he manages to survive the unlucky incident by making several adjustments to his suit which is the sole difference of life and death. This shows us that humans in the modern society as well will make changes here and there in their environment to keep on striving for survival.

The theme of man vs nature is even more developed when Watney tries to communicate back Earth whilst the people in Earth are doing the best they can too.It was stated in his first person narrative diary, ”I’m on the very edge of a storm.” and by Venkat in Earth, “Get whatever resource from NASA to speed up the progress.” We came to understand that the people of Earth are carrying tasks that progress are greatly sped to aid Watney in the fastest way possible.
Weir states that humanity is also expressed even though the distance between them is beyond imaginable. Weir diligently shows man’s humanity through the continuous help of millions of people to save just one of them to help him go through the toughest of
times.

In short, Andy Weir showed that themes were developed in between Mark Watney and the people in the settings it was experienced. He had to went through a lot to ensure survival down the road in Mars. It is shown that even the people in Earth gathered together to carry out what seems like an impossible mission. Different themes of Mark Watney and Mars were developed in him as it is in everyone’s environment all in each is for the same purpose -- to bring him back.