The Martian Characteristics

1. Mark Watney: 2. Annie Montrose 3. Ares 3 Crew a. Commander Lewis b. Martinez c. Johansen d. Beck e. Vogel 4. Mindy Park 5. Mitch Henderson 6. Teddy Sanders 7. Rich Purnell 8. Venkat Kapoor

Mark Watney: Mark Watney is the man. When we first meet him, he's your average, run-of-the-mill botanist. Nothing special. By the end of the novel, however, he's a dang hero. Although Mark didn't choose to be stranded on Mars, he made the best of the situation he was given, using his personality, intellect, and determination to fight his way out of an impossible bind. Personality Test The most important tool in Mark's arsenal is his winning personality. Think we're paraphrasing an inspirational poster? Think again. Mark was chosen for the mission specifically because he was an asset to the group's chemistry—the way he "showed signs of stress and moodiness [...] was to crack more jokes and get everyone laughing" (8.136). For comparison: the way we show signs of stress and moodiness is to punch couch cushions, scream in the shower, and play very aggressive rounds of darts. None of that would be helpful on Mars. But that's why they chose Mark to go to the red planet: when the going gets tough, tough Mark starts cracking jokes faster than an over-caffeinated Aziz Ansari: Yes, of course duct tape works in a near-vacuum. Duct tape works anywhere. Duct tape is magic and should be worshipped. (17.50) I tested the brackets by hitting them with rocks. This kind of sophistication is what we interplanetary scientist are known for. (18.107) It's not that he doesn't grasp the seriousness of these situations, though. It's that he take away their power by making light of them. (In an interview, author Mark Weir is quoted as saying, "I guess people liked the snarkiness of the main character." We'd guess Weir is right on the money.) And Mark Watney also just a supremely chill guy. For example, Mark doesn't even lose his cool when the crew leaves him behind. Instead of shouting their names angrily into the heavens, he writes that "in [their] position [he] would have done the same thing" and that he's "glad [they] survived" (1.13). The Martian Characteristics

That's an awfully classy move coming from a guy stuck in a hopeless situation. But that's just how Mark works: no matter what gets thrown his way, he always manages to look to the bright side of things. That ability will be put to the test in a big, big way during his brief sojourn on the red planet. Mark MacGyver Mark's time on Mars consists of disaster after disaster. Things go from bad to worse— often. Instead of admitting defeat, however, Mark puts a smile on his face and works harder at creating new solutions. And when those solutions fail—as they inevitably do—Mark keeps his nose to the grind. He even "prefers the term "learning experience" over the word "failure" (7.68). This borderline-improvisational approach to science gets him in trouble with NASA... but it's tough to argue with the guy's results. Or his pluck. It helps that Mark has a lot of practice with this stuff by now. Over the course of his stay, Mark is forced to become the space-age version of MacGyver, staving of catastrophic disasters with some duct tape and a few strands of hair. Although "equipment failure is terrifying" to the bigwigs at NASA, "to [Mark], it's "Tuesday" (13.57). This might sound cocky, but we think that Mark has earned the right to be a little cocky at this point. There And Back Again So how exactly do these experiences change Mark? To be honest, Mark remains fundamentally the same guy, even after he's rescued: he's still cracking jokes and being his lovably awkward self. If anything, he walks away with a greater appreciation for life and the knowledge that "every human being has a basic instinct to help each other out" (26.424), which is a super-inspiring comment. Though he might be a bit more appreciative of each day, we seriously doubt that Mark Watney will transform into a different person when he gets back to Earth. That being said—never say never. Although Mark is the same guy, he's returning to a very different world: a world where he is an uber-popular celebrity. Gone are the days of studying botany into the depths of night. Now he'll be rubbing elbows with politicians and movie stars and girls, girls, girls: If I get back to Earth, I'll be famous, right? A fearless astronaut who beat all the odds, right? I bet women like that. (24.103) Mark, you dog. Naturally, there are downsides and upsides to this—just as there are with the worldwide obsession with Mark as a whole. Still, we can all agree that returning to Earth—and adapting to this new lifestyle—might be the guy's steepest challenge yet Mark 2.0 To be honest, though, we're not too worried. No matter what gets thrown his way, Mark will assuredly face these new obstacles the same way he faced the ones on Mars—with a smile, a sense of humor, and a strong sense of intellectual curiosity. The Martian Characteristics

That being said, all bets are off if Mark somehow scores a GQ photo-shoot: dude will be on the front page of TMZ in a matter of weeks. Annie Montrose: As nerds, we think we're justified in saying that The Martian is one geek-filled book. The novel is filled to the brim with 'em: Doctor Who-loving, botany-studying, wheeling-and- dealing nerds. There is one person, however, who stands apart in this world of black framed glasses and disco records. That person is Annie Montrose. As NASA's resident PR guru, Annie is charged with rallying public support for the rescue mission. This is actually a pretty big deal, because the novel shows us "how much red tape gets cut when everyone's rooting for one man to survive" (21.18). With Annie Montrose leading the charge (giving "hourly press conferences," no less), what could've been a PR disaster turned into a massive success (7.179). We don't think that this takes away from the great work of scientists like Rich Purnell and Mindy Park—we just think that this no-nonsense PR professional deserves her fair share of the praise. Ares 3 Crew: Character Analysis It doesn't matter if you're a rapper, a pirate, or an astronaut—everyone needs a good crew. While countless people step up to the plate to help Mark over the course of The Martian, no one puts as much on the lines as his five crewmates. With that in mind, we owe it to those dudes to get to know them a little better. Meet The Crew Allow us to introduce you to the posse:  Martinez: Mark and Martinez are best bros, evidenced by the fact that Mark asks him "check in on his parents" if he dies, even though "it won't be easy talking to a couple about their dead son" (16.4-5). We don't really know much more about him than that, besides that Beck's sister think he's smoking hot.  Beck: Falling in love with astronauts must run in Beck's family, because that dude eventually falls head over heels for the lovely Ms. Johanssen. It's adorable. Amusingly, they have Mark to thank for their happy relationship, as he's the one who pushes Beck "to tell Johanssen how [he feels]" because otherwise he'd "regret it forever" (16.184)  Johanssen: Although Mark is not above pointing out what how attractive Johanssen is, it's clear that he looks at her almost like a sister. He even tells her to "remind [him] to give [her] a wedgie next time" they hang out (16.64). Gross.  Vogel: Finally, we have the estimable Mr. Vogel. We really don't have too much to say about this guy, except that his minor German-to-English verbal mistakes ("I have the computer problem") are adorable. (16.228). And that's it, right? The Martian Characteristics

The Boss Lady Actually, we're leaving out the most important crewmember of them all—Commander Lewis. Besides her overwhelming (and slightly disturbing) obsession with disco, Lewis is defined by the immense guilt she feels over having "left him behind [...] in a barren, unreachable, godforsaken wasteland" (12.222). Although Mark tells her how much he respects her and her decision, she can't shake these overwhelming feelings of shame. To be honest, though, this seriousness is exactly what makes her such a good leader. Commander Lewis would've given anything to be in Mark's place, and to sacrifice herself so her crew could live. We even learn that, on the day that Mark supposedly died, the crew "reluctantly obeyed Lewis's order" to "leave [her] behind" because she wanted to search more for Mark (12.111-113). Commander Lewis isn't just guilty that she left Mark for dead; she's guilty that she wasn't the one to make that sacrifice. Now The Whole Team's Here Ultimately, Commander Lewis realizes that the best way to make things right is by saving Mark. The rest of the crew wholeheartedly agrees. Although they're five different people with five very different personalities, they've all had their lives touched by Mark Watney in ways both big and small. It's only fair that they repay him for that—with interest. Mindy Park: Growing Pains Although you might not notice it at first, Mindy Park goes through more growth than any character but Mark Watney himself. Like our humble, botany-loving hero, Mindy was thrown into this ordeal completely out of the blue and forced to adapt to survive. When we first meet her, Mindy's at a tough place in her life, dissatisfied with her career at NASA. She spends her days "working in an-all night photo booth," leaving her expensive "'Master's degree in mechanical engineering'" to collect dust (6.47). It might not be as bad as filling shifts as McDonalds, but it's still a serious bummer. Everything changes when she discovers that Mark is still alive. Now, instead of wasting away her days (and nights) in front of a computer, she's rubbing elbows with luminaries like Venkat Kapoor and Teddy Sanders. It's a rags to riches story condensed into the space of an afternoon. That would be pretty good on its own, but Mindy impresses us all by stepping up to the plate—big time. Her first meetings with the NASA bigwigs are stiff, her shyness shining through at every moment. As time goes on, however, she develops a presence of her own, mocking Teddy when he threatens to fire her by calling herself an "interplanetary voyeur" and a "'space paparazzi'" (24.45, 47). That's what we call chutzpah. No matter which way you slice it, this Mindy Project is a resounding success. Mitch Henderson: Character Analysis Going Rogue The Martian Characteristics

Mitch Henderson is the closest thing The Martian has to Han Solo. While Teddy and Venkat tend to play it safe, Mitch is bold and brash in the pursuit of what he believes is right. You might dislike his methods, but you can't argue with the results. Even if you like Mitch, you have to agree with Teddy that the guy can be "a pain in the ass" at times (19.60). The guy is passionate about his work and blunt with his opinions, which is great for getting things done... but less great for creating a good work environment. The dispute between Teddy and Mitch carries throughout the novel. Mitch frequently accuses Teddy of being "'on damage control'" and "hanging [Mark] out to dry" in a super hostile manner (16.196, 200). Though it's hard to disagree with what he says, there are much better ways to make these opinions known. On the other hand, maybe that's the only way things get done in a big organization like NASA. After all, Hermes only returns to Mars because Mitch goes behind Teddy's back to send them the Purnell Maneuver. In the end, it becomes clear that Mitch fights so hard because he is the one in charge of the Ares 3 mission. Teddy and Venkat feel bad about what happened, of course, but Mitch feels responsible. When you combine these feelings with Mitch's natural bone- headedness, then can best believe you'll end up with a few cracked skulls. Teddy Sanders: Character Analysis Our boy Teddy Sanders really gets the short end of the stick. Basically, the guy leads the charge to rescue Mark, sacrificing his days and nights in pursuit of this one goal. For almost two years. Here's the kicker: after all of that, all he gets in thanks are accusations of not being "willing to take risks to save lives" (16.323). While there's some truth to this statement, it overlooks the most important aspects of Teddy's character. Always Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide We can all agree that Teddy is a cautious dude. Teddy acts as NASA's in-house conscience and is always sure to have a careful "discussion about what's safest" before coming to any decision (16.168). Sometimes he believes the potential benefits outweigh the risks, like when he decides to skip inspections for the Solaris probe. At others—like during the Purnell Maneuver debacle—he refuses to take chances. Although Mitch tears Teddy a new one for chickening out on the Purnell Maneuver, we think the guy is being a little harsh. Remember: Mitch is only in charge of the Ares 3 mission, while Teddy runs the whole of NASA. That's a major responsibility: Teddy has to make sure that things are running smoothly in order to keep NASA alive and kicking. Top Of The Food Chain So, yes, Teddy is more cautious than Mitch, but that's only because everything rests on Teddy's shoulders. It's like when Venkat refuses to give a speech on Mark's death because "nice words from the directors of Mars operation won't bring him back" (6.5). Teddy doesn't have a choice in the matter—being a leader is his responsibility. The Martian Characteristics

With that in mind, we should all try to be a bit more sympathetic towards Teddy's perspective. After all, NASA needed a focused leader to make such an elaborate (and expensive) rescue mission possible, and Teddy that role admirably. He might not be the kind of character you'd want to hang out with, and he's maybe not the most heroic character in this story, but he's a dang fine manager most of the time. Rich Purnell: Nerd Alert Rich Purnell fits just about every nerdy stereotype you've ever heard. Genius-level IQ? Check. Bad social skills? Check. A Drax the Destroyer ability to completely miss the point of jokes? Oh yes. We're not making fun of him, though, because a nerd like him is exactly what Mark Watney needs right now. Plus, we just made a Guardians of the Galaxy joke. What do you think that makes us? (The answer is: big ol' nerds.) Rich Purnell's defining characteristic is his dedication to his work. He slaves over the so- called "Purnell Maneuver" for weeks on end until "empty coffee cups rested on every surface" and "take-out packaging littered the ground" (15.100). This isn't a project handed down to him by his bosses: it's a personal obsession. More importantly, it's an obsession that could save Mark's life. That being said, the guy is clearly "not good with people" (16.94). Purnell is a supremely logical dude, and while that logic comes in useful when he's doing research, it has a tendency to trip him up in social situations. Luckily for everyone involved—Mark Watney especially—NASA isn't paying him to be a charming fellow. They're paying him to be a nerd. Venkat Kapoor: Character Analysis The Brains Behind The Operation Venkat might not be the flashiest scientist we meet at NASA, but the dude knows how to do his job. Basically, Venkat has a simple leadership style. He doesn't big speeches like Teddy: in fact, he refuses "to make a speech" about Mark because "nice words [...] wouldn't bring him back" (6.5). Venkat is concerned with results, and his mind is already racing to figure out ways to turn this disaster into a net positive. This aspect of his personality comes out time and time again. Venkat acts as the mediator when Mitch and Teddy get into their frequent arguments, weighing each side of the argument with Spock-like precision. In fact, Spock is a great comparison for the guy: for Venkat, it's all about the logic. Like Annie Montrose and Mindy Park, Venkat is one of The Martian's less-lauded heroes. This might be because he has a smaller personality than dudes like Mitch and Teddy. Or it might be because Venkat simply prefers to work in the background. Regardless, his laser-sharp focus on rescuing Mark is crucial to the mission's success. The Martian Characteristics