Are You Sure You Exist? 1st draft

Are You Sure You Exist?

By Jake Lester 813

A book called The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury has such ideas that are so preposterous yet fantastic that they made me question my very existence. This book has a writing style that is unique from others, where it gives the reader a collection of stories/events over a course of around 30 years, containing some of the same characters lot of characters and the same overall setting: mars. Anyways, a specific event that made me question my own existence, happened when mars has been partially inhabited by humans and the Martians have all died off. A man driving a truck towards a city see's a strange vehicle and steps out. A Martian comes out of the vehicle sharing the same feelings. The Martian is confused as to why that human is there and the man is confused as to why the Martian is alive. They converse, and after a while they go in to shake hands. That is where it becomes strange.

     Their hands go right through each other’s and they are bewildered. The Martian takes a knife from his pocket and tosses it to the man. The man tries to catch it, but it goes right through him. The Martian and the man then simultaneously accuses the other of not being real. They both are so convinced that each other is right, giving examples of how their objects exist when the other sees those objects differently. It is not possible for them both to exist (physically) so they decide that one of them is right (that being themselves of course), and quickly leave the other to go somewhere else.

     This makes me question myself if I really exist or if everything is just an illusion. My mind being a recording of what has happened, and the world as a late relay from the previous past (relating to a theory of what the event in the story really is). I could merely be an illusion that is invisible to all who are not part of it (for it is only an illusion to ourselves) and where I am, the future could be taking place, or more accurately, the present. It would be understandable that the two characters in the event dismiss the idea and the other, being that it is just too emotional and confusing to think about.

     Think about it. If someone living another life came to you and what happened in the event happened to you, what would you do? How would you feel? You can't really prove you exist because the other creature could use the same reasons against you, for you are both in the exact same position. It would be frustrating, now wouldn't it? Here, right now picture yourself as the man who meets the Martian. Try to prove you exist to this creature. Is it because you see things, feel things (being mental or physical), hear things, or it wouldn't make sense for you not to exist? Well this creature can use all of the same examples as evidence. This book brought up these feelings of uncertainty that I now harbor because of it. I would suggest this book to anyone who knows they can handle it, for this book has many intense, confusing and philosophical moments that the weak mind could not comprehend.