Essay Questions

How is the theme of ecology and environment explored in the novel?

The novel is full of images of ruins of the grand cities and canals that the precursor Martian races built. In narrating these details there is both a sense of awe and a reflective melancholy that is conveyed that despite the immense technological achievements of the ancient Martians there was nothing they could do to stop the gradual decline of their world. This theme is both a warning against unhindered exploitation of the environment and a reproof against the heedless development of technology and the unchecked expansion of, at least for the “earthbound” reader, human population.

Race and race relations are a frequently encountered theme. How are such issues tackled in the novel?

Natives of Mars are divided not just by physical borders but also by unique cultural distinctions and physiology of each race. The Green Martians (Tharks) are a primitive, warlike, six-limbed, green-skinned race. They live in a tribal society and raiding other Thark communities is the only economic activity that they busy themselves with. Tars Tarkas, chieftain of the Green Martians, seems to be the exception to the general savagery of the Tharks as he seems to be the only one exhibiting noble qualities such as living by a clear code of ethics and exercises some restraint with regard to violence. There are also the Red Martians, the other dominant intelligent race. The Red Martians live in cities and make use of fantastic technology such as energy pistols and flying machines. It is later on revealed that they are the result of the interbreeding of the white, yellow, and black Martians---their ancient and now extinct precursors---who decided to pool both their scientific knowledge and genetic strengths to produce a tougher race that would survive the planet’s failing ecosystem. These two races have their representative characters interacting with one another without undue conflict. In fact over time some of the most enduring bonds of friendship form between these most unlikely of friends serving as in-novel argument that “nobility transcends race and culture.”

There are several mentions of ruins and other grand pieces of architecture that have fallen into disrepair. What do these ruins symbolize?

The great vestiges of the pre-historic Martian architecture serve as a warning to the present Martian society and symbolic that no matter how great a society becomes nothing lasts forever. Despite all their advanced technology the Ancient Martians couldn’t stop the gradual decline of the planet or the extinction of their people nor could they survive as they currently are as a species and a culture.