# A Princess of Mars — Themes

> Major themes in A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

## Love and Romance

The central romance between John Carter and Dejah Thoris drives the plot, exploring themes of devotion, sacrifice, and the power of love across worlds and cultures, as seen in their passionate declarations and willingness to risk everything for each other.

### Where it surfaces

- [XIII: Lovemaking on Mars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xiii-lovemaking-on-mars): Carter and Dejah Thoris share a private walk under the moons, culminating in Carter's realization of his love for her.
- [XIV: A Duel to the Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xiv-a-duel-to-the-death): Carter's internal conflict over confessing his love to Dejah Thoris and her subsequent coldness dominate the chapter, highlighting the pain and idealism of romantic love.
- [XV: Sola Tells Me Her Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xv-sola-tells-me-her-story): Sola's parents' secret love defies Thark traditions; their story is one of devotion and sacrifice.
- [XVII: A Costly Recapture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xvii-a-costly-recapture): Dejah Thoris's declaration that she will die with Carter and their embrace highlight the deepening romantic bond between them.
- [XXII: I Find Dejah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xxii-i-find-dejah): Carter and Dejah Thoris confess their love, but are thwarted by her prior promise to Sab Than. Carter vows to claim her despite all obstacles.
- [Lost in the Sky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xxiii-lost-in-the-sky): Carter's love for Dejah Thoris drives his desperate actions, including risking death for her freedom.

## Honor and Custom

Martian society is rigidly governed by customs, such as marriage vows and combat rules, which characters must navigate; John Carter's ignorance of these customs creates conflict, while adherence to them determines fate and social standing.

### Where it surfaces

- [A Princess of Mars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/a-princess-of-mars): Thark society is governed by rigid codes of honor and custom, which both constrain and protect John Carter and Dejah Thoris.
- [X: Champion and Chief](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/x-champion-and-chief): Martian customs dictate that a warrior who kills a chieftain in combat inherits his rank and regalia, a code Carter must navigate.
- [With Dejah Thoris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xi-with-dejah-thoris): Thark customs regarding killing women and the hierarchy of chieftains are explained, showing the rigid social codes that govern behavior.
- [XII: A Prisoner with Power](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xii-a-prisoner-with-power): The green Martians' rigid customs regarding property, mating, and justice are contrasted with Carter's Earthly values.
- [XIII: Lovemaking on Mars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xiii-lovemaking-on-mars): Tharkian customs of war, treatment of thoats, and the significance of Dejah Thoris' lineage are highlighted.
- [XIV: A Duel to the Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xiv-a-duel-to-the-death): Carter refrains from declaring his love out of respect for Dejah Thoris's position and Martian customs; Tars Tarkas's decision to free her chains shows a tension between honor and cruelty.

## Civilization vs. Barbarism

The book contrasts the brutal, loveless green Martians with the more cultured red Martians, and John Carter's Earthly values of compassion and justice highlight the tension between savage instincts and civilized ideals.

### Where it surfaces

- [A Prisoner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/iv-a-prisoner): The contrast between the ancient, refined architecture and the crude, violent Green Martians highlights this theme.
- [With Dejah Thoris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xi-with-dejah-thoris): The contrast between the advanced ancient Martian civilization and the current Thark barbarism is explored through the art and history of Korad.
- [Chained in Warhoon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xviii-chained-in-warhoon): The Warhoons' savage rituals and constant internal violence contrast sharply with any notion of civilized order.

## Alienation and Belonging

John Carter is a stranger on Mars, struggling to find his place among alien beings, yet he forms deep bonds with Sola, Woola, and Dejah Thoris, exploring themes of isolation, adaptation, and finding home in a foreign world.

### Where it surfaces

- [A Princess of Mars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/a-princess-of-mars): John Carter is a stranger in a strange land, struggling to find his place among the Tharks while forming bonds with Dejah Thoris and Sola.
- [III: My Advent on Mars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/iii-my-advent-on-mars): Carter is a stranger in a completely alien world, yet his peaceful gestures and unique abilities begin to bridge the gap between him and the Green Martians.
- [V: I Elude My Watch Dog](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/v-i-elude-my-watch-dog): Carter is a captive among alien green Martians, yet finds a sympathetic ally in Sola.
- [A Fight That Won Friends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/vi-a-fight-that-won-friends): Carter's acts of bravery and compassion begin to earn him acceptance and friendship in a foreign and hostile society.
- [VII: Child-Raising on Mars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/vii-child-raising-on-mars): Carter feels alienated by the lack of familial love among Martians, contrasting with his own human values.
- [A Fair Captive from the Sky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/viii-a-fair-captive-from-the-sky): John Carter feels a strange kinship with the unknown foemen and a deep yearning toward them, highlighting his sense of alienation among the green Martians.

## Courage and Combat

Physical prowess and bravery are paramount in Martian society, with John Carter's fighting skills earning him respect and power; the narrative glorifies heroic combat as a means of proving worth and achieving goals.

### Where it surfaces

- [A Fight That Won Friends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/vi-a-fight-that-won-friends): Carter's battles with the ape and his willingness to fight despite overwhelming odds exemplify his courage and combat skills.
- [A Fair Captive from the Sky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/viii-a-fair-captive-from-the-sky): The chapter details the fierce battle between the Tharks and the air fleet, emphasizing the warriors' deadly accuracy and the chaos of war.
- [X: Champion and Chief](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/x-champion-and-chief): Carter's single-handed defeat of a Thark warrior and his willingness to fight for Dejah Thoris exemplify his courage and combat prowess.
- [We Plan Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xvi-we-plan-escape): Carter demonstrates courage by returning to Dejah Thoris's quarters despite the trap, and the group prepares for a perilous escape.
- [XVII: A Costly Recapture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xvii-a-costly-recapture): John Carter displays immense courage in fighting off the Tharks and later confronting Tal Hajus to rescue Dejah Thoris.
- [Chained in Warhoon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xviii-chained-in-warhoon): The duel between Bar Comas and Dak Kova exemplifies the brutal, honorless combat that defines Warhoon society.

## Fate and Destiny

Characters often speak of fate and inevitability, from John Carter's mysterious immortality to Dejah Thoris's arranged marriage, yet individual choices and actions repeatedly alter the course of events, questioning predestination.

### Where it surfaces

- [I: On the Arizona Hills](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/i-on-the-arizona-hills): Carter's mysterious longevity and the sense that his life is guided by forces beyond his control, leading him to the cave that will transport him to Mars.
- [The Escape of the Dead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/ii-the-escape-of-the-dead): Carter's inexplicable attraction to Mars and his out-of-body experience suggest a destined journey beyond Earth, setting the stage for his Martian adventures.
- [A Fair Captive from the Sky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/viii-a-fair-captive-from-the-sky): The arrival of the captive woman and John Carter's immediate connection to her suggests a fateful meeting that will shape his destiny on Mars.
- [In the Atmosphere Factory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xx-in-the-atmosphere-factory): Carter's telepathic insight and the keeper's hidden thoughts set a course that could determine the fate of all Barsoom.
- [Lost in the Sky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xxiii-lost-in-the-sky): Carter leaves his fate to chance and the speed of his machine after losing his compass.
- [From Joy to Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xxvii-from-joy-to-death): The characters confront their seemingly inevitable doom, but Carter's memory of the nine sounds suggests a destined role in saving Barsoom.

## Gender and Power

Martian gender roles are complex: women are warriors and artisans in green society, while red Martian women are objects of courtship and protection; John Carter's chivalric attitude toward Dejah Thoris reflects Earthly ideals clashing with Martian norms.

### Where it surfaces

- [XXII: I Find Dejah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xxii-i-find-dejah): Dejah Thoris uses her position as princess to negotiate peace by offering herself in marriage, but is bound by customs that limit her agency after the promise is made.

## Survival and Adaptation

John Carter must quickly learn Martian language, customs, and combat to survive in a hostile environment, highlighting themes of resilience, resourcefulness, and the ability to adapt to extreme circumstances.

### Where it surfaces

- [I: On the Arizona Hills](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/i-on-the-arizona-hills): Carter's struggle to survive in the harsh Arizona wilderness and his resourcefulness in the face of Apache attacks.
- [The Escape of the Dead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/ii-the-escape-of-the-dead): Carter's struggle to overcome paralysis and escape the cave highlights his instinct for survival and his ability to adapt to a terrifying, inexplicable situation.
- [III: My Advent on Mars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/iii-my-advent-on-mars): Carter must quickly adapt to Mars' lower gravity and air pressure, learning to move and communicate with alien beings to survive.
- [A Prisoner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/iv-a-prisoner): Carter must adapt to the low gravity and the customs of the Green Martians to survive.
- [V: I Elude My Watch Dog](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/v-i-elude-my-watch-dog): Carter adapts to Martian food, climate, and the watch dog's behavior.
- [A Fight That Won Friends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/vi-a-fight-that-won-friends): Carter adapts to Martian dangers, using Earthly tactics to defeat the ape and securing his place among the Tharks.

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