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With the new year approaching, it’s a traditional time for an annual assessment of your life. For those scientists contemplating their marital status, Natural Selections is proud to share some musings on the topic by Charles Darwin. In a note written on his return to London after the voyage of the Beagle, Darwin takes a scientific approach and sets out the main arguments for and against the subject. The original document is on display at the Darwin exhibition running at the American Museum of Natural History.
| MARRY |
NOT MARRY |
| Children |
No children (no second life) |
| Constant companion who will feel interested in one |
No one to care for one in old age |
| Home, and someone to take care of the house |
Freedom to go where one liked |
| Charms of music and female chit-chat |
Not forced to visit relatives, and to bend in every trifle |
| Terrible loss of time |
Choice of society and little of it |
My God, it is intolerable to think of spending one’s whole life, like a neuter bee, working, working and 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, and books and music perhaps—compare this vision with the dingy reality of Grt. Marlboro’ St.
Marry—Marry —Marry
Q.E.D.
It being proved necessary to marry—When? Soon or Late. The Governor says soon for otherwise bad if one has children—one’s character is more flexible—one’s feelings more lively…But then if I married tomorrow: there would be an infinity of trouble and expense in getting and furnishing a house…morning calls…loss of time every day…I should never know French,—or see the Continent,—or go to America,—or go up in a Balloon,—or take a solitary trip in Wales…And then horrid poverty…Never mind my boy—Cheer up—One cannot live this solitary life, with groggy old age, friendless and cold and childless staring one in one’s face, already beginning to wrinkle. Never mind, trust to chance—keep a sharp look out—There is many a happy slave.
The full text can be found in the appendix of The Autobiography of Charles Darwin, Collins 1958 edition.
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