The Host is a romance novel written by Stephenie Meyer and even adapted into the science fiction thriller film. Traditionally, there is a story of the post-apocalyptic world that captures the Earth after the alien invasion. The race of Souls come to the Earth in order to create the perfect and bright society. Although The Host is believed to be the canonical example of mass literature, there is an aspect which makes the novel more philosophic than entertaining. The story is focused on the relationships between the Soul, whose name is Wanderer, and the consciousness of the human hosted her. Melanie Stryder is one of those who survives and resists the invasion. Being a rebel, she remains rebellious even after Wanderer is implanted. Despite the adventurous plot, the novel has a clear and profound main thesis. Every human being has a mind and soul, which are not only separate from each other but also may confront. There is no statement that any of these parts is wrong – they are just different.
According to Meyer, the Souls come on Earth when the human race completely discredits itself. Humans become hosts for the invaders, who are all good. They are compassionate, patient, honest, virtuous, and full of love. Souls believe that each of them is ready to do something for the greater good, and they refuse to see such features in humans. They claim that humans are too violent to rule the Earth, moreover, they do not deserve such power. However, the fallacy of such reasoning appears through the novel. When Melanie, the “wild human”, is invaded by Wanderer, Soul faces with several challenges. The text of the novel shows a clear evidence of the expected unity. Wanderer speaks not about the separate body, but her body. “Wild humans” are called soulless as if they have nothing valuable inside. Wanderer gets clear instructions, according to which she is expected to face with stunning emotions, colorful and painful memories, and complex senses. These feelings are the key to the question of why do humans resist.

The difference between Souls and humans is underlined by slight allusions and direct statements through the whole body of the novel. Souls are described as shiny spheres, covered with thousands of feathery and thin attachments, similar to a pale silver hair. From the other hand, human bodies are described with the hard shapes, rectangles and circles, and intensive, various colors. The heart of the conflict between two races is covered in the Souls’ prejudice toward humans. Souls take the human bodies as they believe that there is nothing to lose. The concept of the greater good seems perfect. However, this concept is ambiguous and complex, as well. Wanderer tries to use Melanie’s thoughts in order to find other humans, but the Soul appears to be unable to separate herself from body’s strongest desires. This conflict is grounded on the wrong idea that human soul is pure and immortal, whereas the mind is usually weak, sinful and unworthy. The consciousness of Melanie is as virtuous and fool of love, as Wanderer’s essence. This fact defines the ending of the novel. Although Seeker, who is another soul, attempts to remove Melanie, it is Wanderer, who saves the girl’s consciousness. The novel ends by the final physical separation between Melanie and Wanderer. However, the fact that the Soul gets a new human body indicates the greater similarity.

The adventurous plot of The Host is only a frame for the idea of coexisting of soul and mind in the human body. These concepts may oppose each other and may be different, but there is a unifying force. The novel leads the readers to the idea that this mysterious force is actually the one, which is well-known for everyone. The power of love is described in almost every fiction book in the world. The Host uses this idea successfully, by making it accessible for the readers of any kind.