The author, Ray Bradbury, uses setting throughout the novel to convey his message that the result of science advancing too quickly is that humans will eventually feel insignificant and isolated in contrast with such an immense universe. The way that the humans felt the need to shape and form Mars to look like Earth shows the reader that humans feel isolated and lost on the strange little planet. In the novel the author uses the example of how the "... men with hammers in their hands beat the strange world into a shape that was familiar to the eye, to

Now Thomas laughed. "You're blind!" (p. 84)

By accusing the Martian of being blind the human achieves three things. First, he is trying to redeem his pride by making the Martian feel silly. Second, he is trying to distract himself from the real issue by making fun and laughing, because he cannot deal with his feeling of loneliness and isolation. And third, he is trying to put the Martian in a lower standing and trying to put himself on a pedestal. Thus, the interaction between the Martians and Humans, proves that Humans feel insignificant compared to the apparently more superior race.

Ray Bradbury uses characterization of humble and gracious Martians to show the reader his message that the ignorance of humans causes them to feel insignificant compared to far more intellectual and superior beings. The Martian who survived the chicken pox is used to show the reader that humans feel intimidated by those who they believe are greater than them, and this leads to their ignorance. The Martain, who is far more gracious than the human, says "`We mean you no harm.' 'But I mean you harm!' said Sam (human) backing away." (p. 134). This shows the reader that the human is scared of the Martian, as he back away, and therefore acts irrational out of ignorance. The reader sees how the Martian's humble and gracious ways make the 'trailer-trash' human, Sam Parkhill, feel inferior, thus causing him to react in a defensive manner. The Martian from the past is used to show the reader that humans do not know how to cope with their feeling of insignificance, because it damages their precious pride, so they must ignore the issue by distracting themselves.

The author uses characterization of typically evil and ignorant people to convey his message that premature advances in science lead to isolation and the feeling of insignificance. The evil character, Biggs, is used to show how humans must see, hear or do something familiar in order to beat the feeling of isolation. This evil character performed a christening ritual in which "Biggs... carried six empty bottles and dropped them one by one into the deep blue canal waters (of Mars)... 'I christen thee Biggs, Biggs, Biggs canal'..." (p. 52). This shows that humans must change a strange thing in order to accept it and to overcome their feelings of loneliness. Biggs is also drinking in order to feel good about his so-called 'accomplishment' in science. The evil crew members of the Fourth Expedition are used to show the reader how the crew feels isolated and must try and cope with this feeling. The crew felt so lost in space that they could not do what they were expecting which was "... to be shouting drunk, firing off guns to show how wonderful they were to have kicked a hole in space and ridden a rocket all the way to Mars.

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Approximate Word count = 1883
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)