The Martian: Question 10

Andy Weir provides practically no information concerning Mark Watney’s previous life on Earth. By not employing a narrative that references past experiences of Watney’s, the reader is able come to realizations along with the protagonist. Also, the text serves as more organic and convincing as it details the current thoughts and concerns of Watney.

            Watney’s past is only revealed when mentioning his own credibility as a botanist and engineer, and when referencing the character traits of his crewmembers. Even these details of the past are uncommon and vaguely explained throughout the course of the novel. Some textual details are important in developing the suspense and humor of the story: Watney uses a wooden cross – a religious item of his fellow crewmember Martinez – to begin burning the hydrazine and oxygen. Watney’s toying with the idea that he will now be vulnerable to Martian vampires as divine punishment implies that he has no strong religious background. This detail can be overlooked since it serves no important plot development but is still a desirable component in establishing the sarcastic, borderline-egocentric character of Mark Watney. With the addition of any complexities pertaining to Watney’s life on Earth, the reader can no longer become fully-devoted to the protagonist’s current state of affairs, consequently weakening the significance of the novel.

            Despite having limited knowledge of Watney’s life prior to his arrival on Mars, assumptions can be made of his background based on textual characterization. The lack of reference to family lets the reader infer that Watney’s relationships were limited to those of his crewmembers and perhaps a select few individuals left unacknowledged. It is also probable that Watney’s main coping mechanism prior to his abandonment on Mars was his humor, seeing that it is frequently used throughout the novel, especially in moments of uneasiness. To make further assumptions would be beyond the scope of the novel and its intent to hold the reader in a state of anticipation.