The Martian Should Not Be Banned Analysis

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The Martian Should Not Be Banned Despite all the negativities that have been attributed to the novel, The Martian, I am not convinced that they are reason enough to have the book scrapped from the school curriculum. First, we have to look at the core themes of the book and see how they correlate with what we want our children to learn. Essentially, the book talks about technology and professionalism. In the book, we come across a team of astronauts who are planning to go to planet Mars. These are professionals, who through their co-ordination can set a good example to our children who may be aspiring to take up such or related roles in the future. Especially in the 21st Century where we want our children to be technologically empowered from …show more content…

Watney is strategically used by the author to demonstrate personal problem-solving skills. Once he is stuck in Mars, a land that does not support life, he crafts his way to survive as he awaits rescue. He undertakes to grow plants on the planet by using human waste as fertilizer. He says, “People have speculated on how to make crop soil from Martian dirt for decades. I’ll just be putting it to test for the first time” (Weir, 7). Watney is demonstrating his ability to find his way in times of trouble. This is a positive demonstration of character that can be copied by learners. Based on Mark Watney’s character, it is bold to state that he played a key role in bringing out the friction between science and the natural world. As a Botanist and Engineer, Watney’s actions are seen to pervert the natural order of creation. However, it is worth noting that this is a reality that we cannot escape. We live in an era where science is the driver of human life. We depend on science to survive more than before. Whereas it is essential to stay grounded to the principles of nature, we cannot completely detach ourselves from science. Watney uses his wit to ‘make water’ (Weir, 22) by separating Hydrogen from Hydrazine and then burning it in the air. This is practical and although it seemingly goes against the natural occurrence of water, it is critical, at least for Watney’s survival. Therefore, attributing his actions to profanity is distorting. The boom has valuable

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