Wordsworth and Evolution in Victorian Literature
The influences of William Wordsworth’s writing and evolutionary theory—the nineteenth century’s two defining visions of nature—conflicted in the Victorian period. For Victorians, Wordsworthian nature was a caring source of inspiration and moral guidance, signaling humanity''s divine origins and potential. Darwin’s nature, by contrast, appeared as an indifferent and amoral reminder of an evolutiona...
The influences of William Wordsworth’s writing and evolutionary theory—the nineteenth century’s two defining visions of nature—conflicted in the Victorian period. For Victorians, Wordsworthian nature was a caring source of inspiration and moral guidance, signaling humanity''s divine origins and potential. Darwin’s nature, by contrast, appeared as an indifferent and amoral reminder of an evolutiona...
