Analysis of The Martian - Andy Weir
This story by author Andy Weir, follows a man by the name of Mark Watney, a member of the Areas 3 crew who were tasked with a mission to Mars. To get to Mars, Mark and the crew had to undergo an almost year long trip from Earth, through empty space and land on Mars. Missions before Areas 3 had been carried out so that supplies were already on the planets surface when they arrived, items and supplies that were necessary for the crew to make Mars’s harsh environment habitable, or at least a small part of it. The crew and Mark had called The Hab home for some time, before disaster had struck them. A catastrophic storm had forced the Areas 3 mission to come to a halt and the crew to perform an emergency evacuation, unfortunately in the loud and terrifying confusing Mark was taken away by the storm, assumed dead the remainder of the crew were forced to leave him on the planet.
This is where the story really takes off, Marks wakes only to discover the his crew and only means of getting off Mars, were gone. This situation for Mark is one of life and death, he is all alone in an almost completely unknown place and no way of contacting another human being. What sort of strain would this put on an average human? Luckily this character is beyond optimistic and capable of taking care of himself, though it wont be an easy task to carry out. With limited essentials and supplies, Mark must discover different ways of solving each and every problem as it comes.
The many themes of The Martian include isolation, fear, sacrifice, perseverance and of course, discovery. Mark is left alone on Mars for almost two years and for that entire time he has had to figure out, solve and discovery a solution to every situation that could kill him or ruin his chances of getting home, which essentially would also be killing him. Besides the fact of literal, physical discoveries he makes, there are also those more deep and profound, self-discoveries. Two years by yourself would give a man a lot of time to think, he finds out much about himself and how his mental state is as much important as his physical state. Out of all the Areas 3 crew it was probably lucky that Mark was the one who was left behind, his overwhelming positivity kept him alive as much as his pure genius, he knows that if he were to lose his positivity, his moral, that he will surely perish and so he does what ever it takes to keep himself in high spirits, whether its occupying himself with a task or simply taking a moment with his thoughts.
I don't have a plan for surviving four years on one year of food [...] For now, I'm well fed and have a purpose: Fix the damn radio.
This scene is an example of how he knows he has to stay positive, keeping himself occupied, giving him a purpose is what will keep him alive. At times, naturally, Mark would be overwhelmed by fear, fear of isolation, being alone, never getting home but this does not stop him, this does not take away his purpose if anything it only makes him work harder. He would not be working every waking minute but when in his position, Mark would have take what ever distraction he could get.
One of the techniques used in the story is that whenever Mark is speaking, its as if it is directed at the reader. What he's actually doing in the book is taking down verbal diary entries but the use of this technique allows the reader to have a better connection with the character. It is almost like Mark is telling whoever is reading his deepest thoughts and feelings, this makes understanding his situation much easier, as if you were being talked to be a friend.
