A Princess of Mars · Chapter
I Learn the Language explained
John Carter continues to learn the Martian language and customs, receiving weapons and training from Sola.
What happens
John Carter continues to learn the Martian language and customs, receiving weapons and training from Sola. He overhears a conversation among the green Martian women about the fate of the captive red Martian princess, Dejah Thoris, learning that she is to be taken to Thark for execution. Sola expresses sympathy for the captive, revealing her own distaste for the brutality of her people, which strengthens Carter's resolve to seek her help in escaping with the princess.
Themes in this chapter
Survival and Adaptation
Carter adapts to Martian society by learning the language and weapons, while Sola's critique of her own culture highlights the struggle for moral survival in a brutal environment.
Alienation and Belonging
Carter feels alienated among the green Martians but finds a potential ally in Sola, who also feels out of place due to her compassionate views.
Characters to notice
- John Carter
Continues learning the Martian language and weapons training; resolves to seek Sola's help to escape with the captive princess.
- Sola
Teaches Carter the Martian language and weapons; expresses sympathy for the red captive and criticizes the brutality of her own people.
- Sarkoja
Older woman who guards the captive; reveals the plan to take the red princess to Thark for execution.
- Dejah Thoris
The red Martian captive; glimpsed being led to the audience chamber; her fate is discussed by the green women.
- Woola
Mentioned as sleeping in the same quarters as Carter and Sola.
Key passages
“As I came back to myself I glanced at Sola, who had witnessed this encounter and I was surprised to note a strange expression upon her usually expressionless countenance.”
When I regained consciousness, I looked at Sola and saw an unusual look on her normally blank face.
Carter observes Sola's reaction to his encounter with the captive princess.
“I had observed on the two occasions when I had seen her that the prisoner exchanged words with her guards, and this convinced me that they spoke, or at least could make themselves understood by a common language.”
I noticed that the prisoner talked with her guards, which made me believe they shared a language.
Carter deduces that the red and green Martians can communicate.
“It is only the men of her kind who war upon us, and I have ever thought that their attitude toward us is but the reflection of ours toward them.”
Only the red men fight us, and I believe their hostility mirrors our own.
Sola argues that the conflict is reciprocal, not one-sided.