Final post EVER!!!!!

I believe that the main theme of the Martian is that the author believes that science can solve any problem. Weir throws many obstacles at his protagonist, Mark Watney, and has the character use his extensive scientific knowledge to solve these. Further evidence before the quotes from the book includes the fact that Weir doesn't coddle the reader with any sort of cushioning. Instead he chooses to throw the reader headfirst into pages of scientific dialogue that are surprisingly understandable.


“Me: “This is obviously a clog. How about I take it apart and check the internal tubing?” NASA: (after five hours of deliberation) “No. You’ll fuck it up and die.” So I took it apart.”

“Once I got home, I sulked for a while. All my brilliant plans foiled by thermodynamics. Damn you, Entropy!”

“I tested the brackets by hitting them with rocks. This kind of sophistication is what we interplanetary scientists are known for.”