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FRQ 1.
FRQ 1.
In the novel Martian, Andy Weir employs Man vs. Nature and profound isolation in order to convey how the potatoes to symbolize life on Mars, ultimately illustrating the adversity one has to go through in space.
First, Weir uses Man vs. Nature to show the obstacles that were in Mark Whatney's way. For example, Mark Whatney is stranded on Mars with little food to survive. He is a botanist so he ends up using his poop to grow potatoes for food. Because Mars soil is so toxic for our food, he had to create his own fertilizer to plant the food in. Consequently, he tried lighting a fire in space to create moisture, so the plants would have water to grow. Therefore, Whatney growing potatoes shows how the potatoes saved his life. For example, Watney was a botanist, so he knew how to grow agriculture out of little resources. A theme in the book is resilience. Because he was faced with little to no resources to grow the potatoes. Consequently, his knowledge ended up saving his life. Therefore the growing of the potatoes meant that Whatney was one step closer to getting back home. Additionally, Weir uses profound isolation to show how Whatney did the impossible by colonizing Mars.
Profound isolation helps Whatney really think of different ways to get back home to Earth. For example, Whatney has to drive a Rover something like 300 miles to his extraction point, but the problem is that the rover can only go 10 miles before it dies. He had to strap the rover with a nuclear battery in order to give the rover more power. Because the conditions of Mars are so harsh, Whatney had to solve it in order to go where he wanted. Consequently, the only problem he had was that there was a nuclear battery strapped to his vehicle. Therefore, isolation can help people think outside of the box. Profound isolation also is crucial for problem solving because of all the time that Whatney had alone. For example, Whantey couldn't talk on the phone with NASA because there was no service. All he had was a camera that would move 360 degrees. The way they communicated was with yes or no questions and answers. Because of the profound isolation, it allowed for Whatney to problem solve and find a solution. Consequently, Whantey did the impossible by communicating from Mars to Earth. Therefore, Whantey was always able to accomplish the problem because of the isolation he faced.
Ultimately, Weir shows us that the potatoes are a symbol of life, and all of the adversity Mark Whatney goes through to come back to Earth. Through profound isolation and Man vs. Nature we see you tough problems are able to get solved.
FRQ 2.
FRQ 2.
In project Hail Mary, Weir uses unconventional houses as a symbol to show the need for survival and to become a hero, revealing how the unconventional house helped Ryland save the world from the star-eating parasites.
To begin, Weir has Ryland live and sleep in unconventional houses to show that was his only way of staying alive and safe at the time. For example, Ryland wakes up from a coma in the middle of space in a spaceship. Because he was forced to save the world because people felt he was the only one that was smart enough to do it. Consequently, he was only able to survive up there from living in the spaceship. Therefore, the spaceship was the reason he was able to survive and get to where he had to go. Another example is when Ryland was on the planet of Erid. He also had to live in a Xenonite bubble, which was a specialized enclosure designed to provide a habitable environment for him. Because this was crucial for him to be able to survive. Consequently, this planet allowed for Ryland to be able to have the opportunity to save earth. Therefore, these unconventional houses serve as a symbol of survival. Not only does Weir use unconventional houses to show survival, but he also uses them to show how he became a hero.
Additionally, Weir uses unconventional houses to show how Ryland became a hero and saved humanity. For example, while on the spaceship, he met a rock-like alien named Rocky. By living on the spaceship, Ryland was able to find help in order to become a hero. Because Rocky was an important part in Rylands success. Consequently, both Rocky and Ryland’s planets were suffering because of this star eating parisiste. Therefore, their teamwork allows them to both save their people. Another example is when Ryland decided to stay on Rocky’s planet Erid. Because he felt it was important to teach the aliens of Erid the things that humans know. Consequently, he didn’t feel like earth offered him anything else. Therefore, the planet of Erid helped Ryland save earth's humanity.
Weir uses unconventional houses as a symbol to show the need for survival and to become a hero, revealing how the unconventional house helped Ryland save the world from the star-eating parasites. The unconventional uses are crucial for Weir’s survival because he wouldn’t have been able to survive or complete the mission any other way. On the spaceship he meant Rocky, and they worked together to save both their planets.
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