Sunday, December 14, 2008

I saw the Darwin exhibit at the Natural History Museum in London a few weeks ago. There was a lot of really great stuff in the exhibit but I have to admit that this note on whether to marry or not was my favorite thing. It has some tough competition. There was a tiny gun on display that Darwin had on board the Beagle. There was a description of Darwin tossing Galapagos iguanas into the ocean to see if they were ablt to recognize him as a pest, they didn't (so great!). In his pro/con list on whether or not to marry Darwin includes 'a terrible loss of time' on the Pros list by mistake. Eventually he chose to marry his cousin (-Marry - Marry - Marry - Q.E.D.). I think I love this because even here he is being methodical and debating against himself here. It is a more human look at a man whose work I more than admire.




This is the question

Marry

Children — (if it Please God) — Constant companion, (& friend in old age) who will feel interested in one, — object to be beloved & played with. — —better than a dog anyhow. — Home, & someone to take care of house — Charms of music & female chit-chat. — These things good for one's health. — Forced to visit & receive relations but terrible loss of time.

W My God, it is intolerable to think of spending ones whole life, like a neuter bee, working, working, & nothing after all. — No, no won't do. — Imagine living all one's day solitarily in smoky dirty London House. — Only picture to yourself a nice soft wife on a sofa with good fire, & books & music perhaps — Compare this vision with the dingy reality of Grt. Marlbro' St.

Marry — Marry — Marry Q.E.D.

Not Marry

No children, (no second life), no one to care for one in old age.— What is the use of working 'in' without sympathy from near & dear friends—who are near & dear friends to the old, except relatives

Freedom to go where one liked — choice of Society & little of it. — Conversation of clever men at clubs — Not forced to visit relatives, & to bend in every trifle. — to have the expense & anxiety of children — perhaps quarelling — Loss of time. — cannot read in the Evenings — fatness & idleness — Anxiety & responsibility — less money for books &c — if many children forced to gain one's bread. — (But then it is very bad for ones health to work too much)

Perhaps my wife wont like London; then the sentence is banishment & degradation into indolent, idle fool — Translated on Darwin Online



5 comments:

timmcnellie said...

One can't overate the pleasures of female chit-chat.

Heather said...

So true Tim. This pros and cons list almost makes me think that *I* should be in the market for a wife. Imagine the 'nice soft wife on the sofa'. :)

Anonymous said...

I think he meant "marry merry Mary." Darwin was ironically spelling those three words the same way to point out how silly it is to pronounce them the same way.

Heather said...

Hmmmm,

How can I argue with this interpretation Genug? Q.E.D.


HH

kc said...

Aw!