Do Unto Others

"Do Unto Others" by Mark Clifton is a science fiction novella that uses humor to explore themes of cultural understanding and morality. The narrative follows Hapland "Happy" Graves, accompanying his strong-willed Aunt Mattie and her group from the Daughters of Terra on a mission to Capella IV, a distant planet. Triggered by concerns about the treatment of the native people, the group seeks to help what they see is an ignorant and sinful population. Interacting with the tentacled natives, Aunt Mattie tries to impose her own values, guided by the Golden Rule, resulting in an unintended cultural imposition. The narrative comes to a comical high point when Aunt Mattie's actions result in the unexpected return of a gesture from the natives, and the Daughter's home world is covered in salt. This substance, instead of representing benevolence as intended by the travelers, represents the native's environment and values. The novella critiques colonial attitudes, questioning if there truly are universal morals when cultures are so different, causing the reader to ponder upon questions of good and evil.