innocence-and-exposure

The tension between preserving Mike's innocence and the need to expose him to adult realities to prepare him for the world.

1 chapter across 1 book

Stranger in a Strange Land (1961)Robert A. Heinlein

C. Offers of business deals of any nature forward to Douglas unanswered.

This chapter details the system devised by Jill and Jubal to manage the overwhelming and varied mail addressed to Mike, categorizing letters from business offers to personal propositions. It explores the challenges of protecting Mike's innocence while preparing him for the complexities of human social and sexual interactions, emphasizing the necessity of exposure to 'filth' as a form of immunization. The chapter also highlights Mike's unique perspective on human behavior, timing, and relationships, illustrating his gradual acclimation to Earthly customs and language nuances.