Barbara Sharp

April 30, 2002

Final Exam Essay 2: Revise, extend, or defend an objective - focus on objective 2: Cultural / natural issues

Natural and Cultural Issues in the Literature of Exploration

In the Literature of Space and Exploration, non-fiction works such as Tracks and The Worst Journey in the World relate to cultural issues regarding humanitarian issues in the same way as the fictitious pieces of A Princess of Mars and The Left Hand of Darkness. The drive to explore, risk danger, and court death seem to be a universal condition of humanity. However, aside from A Princess of Mars, these pieces also reflect how humanity disregards the attitudes of the inhabitants being explored. Adaptability to the situation, physically, mentally, and culturally becomes a challenge for both the explorer and "exploree." How far should a person go to fulfill the "basic human and humanizing curiosity" that is the catalyst for the adventurous spirit and has been said "g[ave] birth to S[cience] F[iction]" (Seed 75). Where should the ethical boundaries be drawn?

Questions regarding ethical conduct in exploration is a sore issue in western culture when one looks back on how Native Americans were treated by the Europeans over five hundred years ago. This kind of disregard is echoed in Tracks when Robyn Davidson reflects on "how [the Aborigines had] been slaughtered, almost wiped out, forced to live on settlements that were more like concentration camps" It seems the egotistical nature of the explorer fails to see the natural rights of the explored.

Although both of these examples depict conditions where there are many explorers invading, the presence of fear from a lack of trust by both the explorer and explored seems to be a natural human reaction regardless of number. For instance, in The Left Hand of Darkness, Genly Ai is feared because "[t]hey look at the man from another world and see" the possibility of his being "a spy from Karhide, a pervert, an agent, a sorry little political Unit like themselves" (161). This last sentiment speaks volumes. To fear the unknown is even more fearful if the worst about one's self is transposed to another. The best and worst attributes of humanity are depicted through this story, but Genly Ai seems to lack the natural quality of an adventurous spirit that is magnified in A Princess of Mars and The Worst Journey in the World.

In The Worst Journey in the World, Cherry Aspley-Garrard does not portray this adventurous spirit with colorful adjectives relating to the men's zeal for going on this expedition; instead he adds details of what he sees and feels about the natural world around him. During an unpredictable time, writing as if he was speaking directly to someone close, he says, "I wish I could take you on the great Ice Barrier some calm evening when the sun is just dipping in the middle of the night and show you the autumn tints on Ross Island" (79). Here, the author-explorer seems to be disclosing the real meaning, the unknown territory that "drives" him to make the expedition. Perhaps he does this even better when he recounts how "after the indescribable effort and hardship" he and the other men of the expedition "were witnessing a marvel of the natural world, and [they] were the first and only men who had ever done so" (95). As an expedition, there purpose was two-fold, they were to be the first to the South Pole and the study of Emperor penguins. Although they did not fulfill the first aspect, they did fulfill the last, and in doing so they are able to some extent, satisfy the ultimate desire of the journey: conquering the unknown.

In his quest to "conquer the unknown," John Carter, the hero of A Princess of Mars, is the ultimate adventurous spirit and although full of ego, still maintains his humanitarian qualities as well. The depiction of Carter is of a man whose mission is underscored by his desire to "do the right thing." This story delivers the idea that ego and ethics can be balanced. Carter's ego is not overindulgent for he is able to think in the perspective of another. Throughout this book in fact, Carter is almost always thinking about what another may be thinking before he acts; he analyzes the situation in terms of the other person's perspective. For instance, when Dejah Thoris suddenly stops speaking to him, Carter does not immediately come to a conclusion as to why, he takes time to ponder the possibilities; his thinking is not bound by cultural differences. This story shows a very different kind of explorer and consequence. Here, the explorer's ego is not a displayed as desiring control of other people, but rather self-control. This perhaps is an exemplary piece in showing how the qualities of human nature can be balanced.

Literature of Space and Exploration creates a natural question between humanitarian issues and the desire to know. Placing the boundaries on ethical questions of how far one should go when exploring new territories creates divisions among those who believe it is essential to the future and those who believe it is invasive and unnecessary. This is the debate that haunts the future of space exploration.

Works Cited

Burroughs, Edgar Rice. A Princess of Mars. New York: The Ballantine Publishing Co., 1912.

Cherry-Garrard, Apsley. The Worst Journey in the World. Ice: Stories of Survival From Polar Exploration. Ed. Clint Willis. New York: Thunder's Mouth Press, 1999. 59-100.

Davidson, Robyn. Tracks. New York: Vintage Books, 1980.

Le Guin, Ursula K. The Left Hand Of Darkness. New York: Ace Books, 1969.

Seed, David. Ed. Anticipations: Essays on Early Science Fiction and Precursors. Syracuse: UP, 1995.