Stranger In A Strange Land Individualism

Reno begins the discussion of Stranger in a Strange Land by explaining how Heinlein was able to develop the material for the novel through the already present concepts in the 1950s. However, not only does Heinlein use the 1950’s social culture as inspiration for sexual exploitation of female characters, but Heinlein also uses inspiration from the Whorfian hypothesis in order to develop Smith’s Martian background. Reno states that the Whorfian hypothesis is the basic idea that people see the world personally because of each person’s difference in language and background. For example, in Stranger in a Strange Land, the character of Mahmond, as Reno mentions, has a different way of thinking due to having grown up already knowing a foreign language …show more content…
Reno further exemplifies this difference when Reno explains how the culture of the Zuni seem to be Apollonian of which subdues individuality. The absence of individualism is present in Martian culture but due to how Smith starts to learn the ways of humans, in Smith’s church, individual aspects of the people remain as Smith simply passes on Smith’s new ideals. Another comparison Reno presents between Smith and the Zuni is the thought that death is only a transition in life thereby, showcasing a likeness in the concept of patience and acceptance. The last comparison Reno makes between Martian culture and Zuni culture is the similarities between ideas of love and family. Reno mentions how both cultures have an emphasis on connections between the people even if society’s current morals would prevent sexual relations with more than one person at a time. Overall, this source is useful for the research paper because the fascinating connection between the Zuni culture and Martian culture provides a distinctive way in seeing and clarifying why Michael Smith does what he