A look at the impact of Darwin's theory of evolution on elements in Herman Melville's novel, "Moby-Dick" and his poem "Clarel".
Written in 2006; 1,820 words; 4 sources; MLA; $ 58.95
Paper Summary:
This paper examines how Herman Melville struggled to reconcile the implications of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution with his Protestant beliefs. This paper traces the rise of pre-Darwinian and Darwinian evolutionary ideas and their impact on the characters in "Moby-Dick", specifically Ahab, who sees his crew in evolutionary terms and his struggle with the white whale as survival of the fittest. The theme is explored further through an examination of the poem, Clarel, in which Melville conducts a theological debate with himself through the characters. Some of Melville's biographical information is included to reinforce the thesis.
From the Paper:
"The nineteenth century proved to be a time of great upheaval and change in both religion and science. Even before the publication of Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species in 1859, advancements in the fields of biology and geology had begun to demonstrate that life on Earth had not always been as it is today and that the biblical account of creation could no longer be held as a literal truth. This conclusion led many to question man's role in the universe and his previously assumed superiority over the world. Furthermore, these findings brought into question the nature of God and the very existence of God itself."
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