Jubal Harshaw

Jubal Harshaw is a fictional character featured in Stranger in a Strange Land, a novel by Robert A. Heinlein. He is described as: "Jubal E. Harshaw, LL.B., M.D., Sc.D., bon vivant, gourmet, sybarite, popular author extraordinary, neopessimist philosopher, devout agnostic, professional clown, amateur subversive, and parasite by choice."

Many critics suggest that it is not Valentine Michael Smith who is the true main character of the novel; but rather Harshaw. Harshaw is central to the tale in that he often has "center stage", expounding much of his personal philosophy to Smith as the latter contends with the new society he finds himself in. Smith eventually enshrines him as the patron saint of the church he founds (much to Harshaw's initial chagrin.) Critics have also suggested that Harshaw is actually a stand-in for Robert Heinlein himself, based on similarities in career choice and general disposition.

Quotations
In Harshaw's appearances, he touches on many concepts, including love, morality, pantheistic solipsism, creationism, proper behavior, religion, art, alcohol, disputing the concept of altruism, and women. The following Heinlein/Harshaw quotations illustrate the character's style and perspective:


 * "A desire not to butt into other people's business is at least eighty percent of all human 'wisdom' . . . and the other twenty percent isn't very important."


 * "Who said I was wise? I'm a professional bad example. You can learn a lot by watching me. Or listening to me. Either one."


 * "Kiss girls all you want to - it beats the hell out of card games."


 * "'Audacity, always audacity'-soundest principle of strategy. In practicing medicine I learned that when you are most at loss is the time when you must appear confident. In law I had learned that, when your case seems hopeless, you must impress the jury with your relaxed certainty."


 * "Customs, morals - is there a difference? Woman, do you realize what you are doing? Here, by the grace of God and an inside straight, we have a personality untouched by the psychotic taboos of our tribe - and you want to turn him into a carbon copy of every fourth-rate conformist in this frightened land! Why don't you go whole hog? Get him a brief case and make him carry it wherever he goes - make him feel shame if he doesn't have it."

Other Fictional Appearances
Other Heinlein novels where Harshaw makes an appearance include:
 * The Number of the Beast (1980)
 * The Cat Who Walks Through Walls (1985)
 * To Sail Beyond the Sunset (1987)