Question 3: Why is it so easy for us to relate to characters in survival stories?

We root for a character to live in a survival story because it is easy to put yourself in that person’s shoes and, of course, don’t want that person to die. People can easily get caught up in the emotions and think about how they would react or feel in that same scenario. I think these types of books and movies create another reality that readers and watchers can escape to and totally immerse themselves in. There are many movies that are man vs. situation like Castaway. The Martian is Watney vs. Mars.  I can relate to Mark through his loneliness but never losing hope, faith, or his sense of humor. Have you ever felt alone in a room full of people? Yea, I feel like that every day here at Saint Mary. I have all these classes and I talk to people but when the classes end, so do the relationships. My dorm room is my Hab. Just me and my potatoes in here. When I leave my room for class it’s like I am going on an EVAC and only have a few hours before I need to be back in my room. I usually see myself as a social person, but college has brought out a hidden hermit from within me. I am always in my room doing homework. Weir gets you to care about Watney by humanizing him. I know, you are thinking what else could he be? But, I mean that Weir gave him weaknesses like when he pulled his back or when the Hab burst. Just when you thought Watney was going to be alright…BAM!... something happens that sends you spiraling through thoughts that Watney really wasn’t going to get off that dumb red planet. Watney wasn’t invincible, so you began to care through watching his struggle. I think this question ties back into the first question about rooting for a character to live in a survival story.