Where did it all begin? What was the factor that started the ball rolling, and gave it the momentum to keep lurching ahead? "As a distraction from his sister's regime, Charles played solitary games in the vast family home. His father had become interested in the fashionable study of natural history and there were rooms full of exotic collections, stuffed animals and old bones. A massive greenhouse attached to the side of the house was a veritable jungle to a young boy and it was in this environment of learned eccentricity and an unforce

aboriginal creations [endemic species] found nowhere else; there is even a

ack of liberty, and FitzRoy at their seeming foolishness. Darwin got a taste of what it means to have to stand up for a belief while aboard the Beagle. The development of Darwin as an orator was clearly halted at this point in his life, for FitzRoy was too harsh a man to competently argue with for his stone cold heart and lack of faith in humanity prevented him from accepting alternate views of society and nature.

Many would agree that the most developmentally significant part of Darwin's journey on the Beagle, as far as the Theory of Evolution and the concept of natural selection goes, would have been his connection with the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos have henceforth become a symbol of Darwinian Evolution. I am reminded of the novel by Kurt Vonnegut Galapagos where evolution is clearly illustrated in a most bizarre and peculiar sense. Yet I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it for anyone with both a sense of humor and a love for natural selection. However it is not relevant to the concept that the Galapagos are a fundamental step in Darwin's development as a scientist. All his years of scientific thought had not prepared him for what wonders he would experience on these small char broiled islands. "Although Darwin did not at the time realize the significance of the various species of both of these creatures [finches and tortoises], differing as they did from one island to another, later when he b!

d seeking of knowledge that Darwin's fascination for natural history and biology began." (D 6) However, growing up in the family home of Dr. Robert Darwin, was not exactly the most pleasant aspect of young Charles Darwin's life.

egan to analyze his samples and to piece together his findings, their importance became clear and acted as the experimental backbone of his theory." (D 78) The relevancy that these sun drenched islands had on Darwin's theories will never be lost to history for they are the stone which gives weight to his theories.

om the internal conflict over his secret work throughout the late 1830's and 1840's . This matter did undoubtedly create huge stress for him." (D 109) The stress created by the work he secretly feared would wipe him off the face of the Earth, is in this students mind the most uneffable reason for his symptoms. Surely there may have been some medical basis in the tropical disease that he fell victem to in Chile, however it may be unlikely that he would have suffered as greatly had he not been harbouring such a vast secret for so long.

The real work began for Darwin when he returned to England. Darwin spent many more years nurturing his theories. With the help of his loving wife and their many children Darwin survivied. The reason why I mention this as being a unique thing is because of the harmful plague that Darwin had to endure for the rest of his life after returning from the tropics. What was this plague, this illness that annoyed both Darwin and his family for so many years. " The first symptoms where stomach cramps and headaches, but during the following years Darwin experienced skin disorders, bouts of eczema, rheumatoid pains, insomnia, odd body swellings, and heart palpatations." (D 108) The thought was that this was psychosomatic in nature stemming from his mother's death

Some common words found in the essay are:
England Darwin, Charles Darwin, HIGHLY RECOMMEND, Beagle FitzRoy, Shrewsbury Charles, Huxley Huxley, Robert Grant, Englishmen American, Erasmus Edinburgh, Society England, charles darwin, voyage beagle, aboard beagle, natural history, fateful voyage beagle, fateful voyage, darwin's development, darwin experienced, love natural, robert grant, natural world,
Approximate Word count = 2234
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)