Darwin's Darkest Hour

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Darwin’s Darkest Hour

After watching the two hour thrilling docudrama from the NOVA/National Geographic , the most interesting part is, the beginning of the drama where Darwin receives a letter from his co-discoverer and naturalist in the theory “natural selection”, who later turns out to be Alfred Russell Wallace (PBS, NOVA, 2009). From the letter, a dialogue ensues between him and Emma, his wife about him having priority to the natural selection idea. It really puzzles me especially during the voyage of HMS Beagle when we are taken through the pages of Darwin’s notebook. It is in this dialogue where Emma asks Darwin what “D stands for?” and suggests “the Devil,” surely, we know Emma as a religious figure but it really seems very odd to me that she becomes Darwin’s supporter.

What I thought was perfectly performed was Darwin’s family great involvement in his domesticity research work at Down House (PBS, NOVA, 2009). He is quite unconventional parent, very mindful in his children upbringing. It is quite interesting to note that his children even became his scientific subjects, that scene where his children were either assisting or attentively watching at his experiments on either plants or bees was so good; the seed dispersal experiment (PBS, NOVA, 2009). Such scenes bring out the factual knowledge that a good upbringing can depend on the learners’ teacher. People learn through experience and by carrying out experiments. What you see is easily remembered than a theory based class.

A very common theme that I realized is the theme of opposition. If Darwin makes his theory public because it goes against the Christian teachings, Bible and the church then his family and he would be hated intensely. The movie though gives no credit to Christians who oppose him, but without any prejudice that is what occurred in that century....