What qualifies something as a home? We're not being smart here; honestly, what do think? Is it any place you rest your head? The walls that house your family? Is it something of your own creation? Or does society decide the boundaries for you? See, even in our everyday life, things can get complicated when we start questioning even supposedly simple concepts like home. Now imagine you've flown across the solar system to settle on a planet that has an environment that is anything but human-friendly (a.k.a. you're a character in Red Mars). How do you make a home from that? Let's find out.
Questions About The Home
- What do you think the novel considers the home? Is it family, friends, a place, a shared biology, or a political designation? Don't worry; there are no wrong answers here, but make sure to support whatever answer you come up with.
- Does the novel take any traditional views of the home and argue against them? If so, what views, and where do you see the novel taking issue with them? If not, then where do you see the novel using a traditional view of home life, and how does it fit into this theme?
- All the characters seem to be searching for a place to call home. Do you think any character finds it? If so, who, where do they find it, and what does this suggest to you about the theme in the novel? If not, then why do you think it's important that no character finds their home?