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Introductory Note to the Reader After watching John Carter
(2012), I must admit I felt disappointed by the way Hollywood chose to market
and reshape Edgar Rice Burroughs’s story. While the film offers visual
spectacle, it simplifies and alters key characters and ideological tensions,
giving them a different twist that weakens the depth of Burroughs’s original
vision. This feeling becomes stronger when one turns to The Gods of Mars,
the second book in the saga, and encounters Issus and the full portrayal of
the Holy Therns. The contrast is striking. The Therns
depicted in the novel are not merely mysterious or eccentric figures, as
suggested in the film, but representatives of a deeply corrupt religious
system built on deception, fear, and manipulation. Issus herself embodies a
false divinity sustained by ritual and blind obedience. This discrepancy
between page and screen may bewilder readers at first, yet it also offers
valuable food for thought. It invites us to reconsider Burroughs’s intentions
and to reflect on how adaptations can dilute or erase the ideological
critique present in the original text. This essay approaches The Gods of
Mars from a historical–biographical perspective to explore how Burroughs,
through John Carter’s actions and moral stance, criticizes religious
authority that restricts free thought. By returning to the novel after
encountering its cinematic adaptation, readers are encouraged to rediscover
the complexity of Burroughs’s ideas and to engage more critically with the
themes of faith, reason, and institutional power. |
A Historical–Biographical Reading of Issus in The Gods of Mars
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Abstract This
paper offers a historical–biographical analysis of Edgar Rice Burroughs’s The
Gods of Mars (1913), focusing on the character of Issus as a symbol of
false divinity and institutional religious corruption. Through John Carter’s
consistent rejection of Issus’s claimed godhood, the novel critiques blind
faith, the manipulation of belief, and the restriction of free thought
imposed by religious authorities. Situating the novel within Burroughs’s
personal skepticism toward organized religion and the broader cultural
climate of the early twentieth century, this study argues that The Gods of
Mars functions as both a critique of institutionalized belief systems and
a defense of moral reasoning grounded in individual judgment, reason, and
ethical action. |
Keywords: Edgar
Rice Burroughs, The Gods of Mars, Issus, John Carter, Blind Faith, Religious
Authority, Historical–Biographical Criticism, Science Fiction |
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Resumen Este artículo presenta un análisis
histórico-biográfico de The Gods of Mars (1913) de Edgar Rice
Burroughs, centrado en la figura de Issus como símbolo de la falsa divinidad
y de la corrupción institucional de la religión. A través del rechazo
constante de John Carter a la supuesta divinidad de Issus, la novela critica
la fe ciega, la manipulación de las creencias y la limitación del pensamiento
libre impuesta por autoridades religiosas. Al situar la obra dentro del
escepticismo personal de Burroughs hacia la religión organizada y del
contexto cultural de principios del siglo XX, el estudio sostiene que la
novela funciona como una defensa del juicio moral individual, la razón y la
ética frente al poder ideológico. |
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Resumo Este artigo apresenta uma análise
histórico-biográfica de The Gods of Mars (1913), de Edgar Rice
Burroughs, com foco na personagem Issus como símbolo da falsa divindade e da
corrupção institucional da religião. Por meio da rejeição constante de John
Carter à suposta divindade de Issus, o romance critica a fé cega, a
manipulação das crenças e a restrição do pensamento livre imposta por
autoridades religiosas. Ao contextualizar a obra no ceticismo pessoal de
Burroughs em relação à religião organizada e no cenário cultural do início do
século XX, o estudo defende que o romance promove a razão, o julgamento moral
individual e a ética como alternativas à autoridade ideológica. |
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Edgar
Rice Burroughs’s The Gods of Mars (1913) uses planetary romance not only
for adventure but also for a strong criticism of religious power and the
manipulation of faith. The character of Issus, worshipped as the supreme deity
of Barsoom, becomes the center of Burroughs’s critique. From a
historical–biographical perspective, Issus represents Burroughs’s distrust of
institutions that claim spiritual authority while practicing deception. John
Carter’s constant refusal to recognize her divinity reflects ideas that
Burroughs himself expressed about the dangers of blind religious obedience. The
Gods of Mars (1913) therefore becomes both a narrative of discovery and a
warning against the uncritical acceptance of institutionalized belief.
Burroughs’s Beliefs
Burroughs’s
personal writings and early life experiences help explain this perspective. He
grew up in a period when many American thinkers openly questioned the
reliability of organized religion. This environment probably helped shape his
views on moral authority. Richard Lupoff notes that Burroughs “never trusted
any structure that used the language of religion to hide human corruption”
(1965, p. 82). When Issus introduces herself by announcing, “I am Issus,
Goddess of Death and of Life Everlasting” (Burroughs, 1913, p. 214), Burroughs
invites the reader to question how easily a powerful figure can claim the
status of a deity. The dramatic contrast between her words and her violent
actions makes her a symbol of the kind of religious hypocrisy Burroughs feared.
The
novel also reflects Burroughs’s view that true morality should come from
personal judgment rather than from dogmatic authority. John Carter functions as
the voice of reason across the story’s plot, repeatedly refusing to accept
divine claims without evidence. After witnessing the cruelty of Issus, he
concludes, “No real god could delight in terror, slavery, and death”
(Burroughs, 1913, p. 228). This moral clarity matches Burroughs’s own belief in
rational ethics. Philip José Farmer explains that Burroughs “valued individual
moral action over doctrinal obedience” (1972, p. 14). Carter is therefore not
only a hero in the narrative sense but also a representative of Burroughs’s
ethical worldview.
The Cultural
Climate in Burroughs’s Time
The
cultural climate of the early 20th century also supports this interpretation.
Burroughs was writing during a time when scientific discoveries, social
changes, and new philosophies challenged traditional religious structures.
Historian John Taliaferro states that Burroughs lived in “an era of rising
distrust toward religious structures that preached virtue but practiced power
politics” (2010, p. 202). The worship of Issus mirrors this tension. On
Barsoom, faith is based on tradition and fear rather than on genuine spiritual
experience. The Holy Therns encourage this system because it gives them
political and economic power. Burroughs uses this situation to explore how
organized religion can become a tool for control when mixed with political
ambition.
The
Holy Therns themselves represent a hierarchical religious order that Burroughs
criticizes through satire. They guard their secrets with violence, manipulate
the innocent, and punish anyone who questions their teachings. Burroughs
writes, “The Therns ruled by terror, and their goddess ruled them by a deeper
terror still” (1913, p. 191). Their dependence on fear reflects Burroughs’s
belief that institutions often rely on intimidation to preserve power. Scholar
Gary Westfahl notes that Burroughs “saw religious institutions as human
inventions that could easily turn into tools of domination” (2010, p. 56). This
interpretation highlights how fear-based systems can crush free thought and
moral independence.
Issus’s
Symbolic Role
Issus
herself is the ultimate expression of this misuse of faith. Although she
presents herself as divine, she is described as cruel, petty, and deeply
flawed. Her so-called divine behavior contradicts every moral principle she
claims to represent. In this sense, Issus becomes an example of how a false god
can rise to power by exploiting people’s desire for meaning, purpose in life,
salvation, and the afterlife. Reading between the lines, one gets to understand
that Burroughs suggests that institutions can create the illusion of holiness
by controlling information, manipulating rituals, and using impressive titles.
Her claim to be “Goddess of Death” demonstrates how she weaponizes religious
identity to justify violence.
The
name “Issus” also plays an important symbolic role. While Burroughs never
stated that the name intentionally resembles “Jesus,” the phonetic similarity invites
reflection. Burroughs’s novel encourages readers to consider how easily divine
names can gain authority simply through tradition and, in this case,
pronunciation. Lupoff points out that Burroughs “used symbolic naming to
challenge readers’ assumptions about authority and legitimacy” (1965, p. 93).
The name Issus therefore acts as a linguistic tool that questions how societies
label certain figures as divine and others as fraudulent.
The Barsoomians’ Pilgrimage
Another
important element in the narrative is the theme of pilgrimage. The
journey that Barsoomians take to the Valley Dor resembles religious pilgrimages
on Earth, yet it leads not to salvation but to slavery and eventually to death.
Burroughs uses this inversion to criticize the idea that following sacred paths
without question guarantees spiritual reward. In fact, the symbology linked to the
Valley Dor becomes a reminder of how institutions can create false notions of
paradise and a better afterlife to control the population. The tragic fate of
the pilgrims shows how easily hope can be manipulated.
Burroughs’s
critique also includes commentary on imperial and racial ideologies. Issus
maintains a rigid hierarchy in which certain groups are considered “lesser
races.” She declares that “before Issus, all inferior beings must crawl”
(Burroughs, 1913, p. 220). This hierarchical language reflects the racial
thinking prevalent during Burroughs’s time, especially in colonial contexts.
Erling Holtsmark argues that Burroughs “linked false religion with systems of
racial and political oppression” (1981, p. 118). By portraying Issus as the
center of these oppressive systems, Burroughs criticizes how religion can be
used to justify inequality.
The Unmasking of Issus
The
dramatic unmasking of Issus is one of the most important moments in the novel.
When John Carter discovers that the “goddess” is only a mortal woman, the
entire religious structure of the first-borns and the rest of Barsoomians
collapses. Burroughs writes that Issus becomes “a frightened old woman who had
lost her power” (1913, p. 307). This revelation symbolizes not only the defeat
of an individual but the fall of a corrupt institution that has pulled
everyone’s threads as if everybody was a puppet. This point in the story’s plot
also suggests that systems built on deception can only survive as long as the
truth remains hidden.
Carter’s
discovery also frees the people of Barsoom from centuries of religious
manipulation and blindfoldedness. Once the truth is revealed, the people can
begin to rebuild their society on a foundation of reason rather than fear.
Burroughs uses this moment to express hope that truth will triumph over false
authority. The destruction of Issus becomes a metaphor for the liberation of
the human mind from oppressive beliefs.
Faith and Reason
The
narrative therefore suggests that genuine faith must be compatible with reason:
Carter is a highly sensible and reasonable character in the story. It can be
assumed that Burroughs is not rejecting spirituality itself but condemning
institutions that demand obedience without offering moral substance. Through
the contrast between Carter and Issus, he argues that true moral behavior comes
from human compassion rather than doctrine. Carter’s actions, protecting the
weak, questioning authority, and seeking truth, embody this ideal in the novel.
Ultimately,
the Issus storyline serves as a historical–biographical mirror of Burroughs’s
worldview. His skepticism toward religious structures, his belief in individual
responsibility, and his exposure to early 20th-century debates about science
and faith all shape the novel’s themes. The story becomes a critique of
institutions that manipulate fear and tradition to maintain power. It also
becomes a defense of personal moral judgment against ideological control.
Final Words
In
conclusion, The Gods of Mars presents Issus as a symbol of religious
hypocrisy, blind faith, and institutional corruption. A historical–biographical
approach reveals that Burroughs used this story to reflect his own concerns
about the misuse of religious authority. Through John Carter, he encourages
readers to question institutions that promise salvation but deliver oppression.
The novel argues that true morality emerges not from divine claims but from
reason, integrity, and ethical action.
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San José, Costa Rica
Saturday, January 17,
2026
📚 References
Burroughs, E. R. (1913). The
Gods of Mars. A. C. McClurg.
Farmer, P. J. (1972). Tarzan
Alive: A Definitive Biography of Lord Greystoke. Doubleday. https://es.scribd.com/document/845775367/OceanofPDF-com-Tarzan-Alive-Philip-Jose-Farmer
Holtsmark, E. (1981). Edgar
Rice Burroughs. Twayne Publishers. https://books.google.co.cr/books/about/Edgar_Rice_Burroughs.html?id=MP4OAQAAMAAJ&redir_esc=y
Lupoff, R. E. (1965). Edgar
Rice Burroughs: Master of Adventure. Canaveral Press. https://cincinnatilibrary.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S170C1088580
Taliaferro, J. (2010). Tarzan
Forever: The Life of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Scribner.
Westfahl, G. (2010). The
Greenwood Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Greenwood Press. https://archive.org/details/greenwoodencyclo0000unse_k2b9
Character Profiling
Characters in the Gods of Mars by Jonathan Acuña
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