The Merriam Webster definition of Darwinian, is a noun describing a competitive environment or situation in which only the fittest persons or organizations prosper (1). An example of the word used in a sentence, “The competition of among manufacturers is very Darwinian” (1). This concept comes from the scientist Charles Darwin himself. His popular evolutionary discovery was that in order for species be deemed the most fit, they had to reproduce and survive over time. The term Darwinian is a form of literary criticism that studies literature in the context of evolution by means of natural selection (2).

Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake (3), her ideas about the fusion of new species, human extinction, and survival all are Darwinian concepts. Snowman is threatened by various genetic splices of animals thriving in this environment. The new fused species outlived humans. Nevertheless Jimmy learns to adapt, though his situation is still sorely uncomfortable. Crake acts the role of god and eliminates humanity to create a new species. Crake has created a self-sustaining population of what he believes to be superior versions of “humanity.” The ideal human is one focuses solely on survival, but does not even have the capacity to think about the “bigger” things of love, death, religion, etc. Crakers eventually survive due to genetic modification and become fit. Jimmy is one of the last humans.

Works Cited

1.)Darwinian | Definition of Darwinian by Merriam-Webster