THE INFLUENCE OF DARWINISM AND EVOLUTIONISM IN MODERN GREEK LITERATURE: THE CASE OF GRIGORIOS XENOPOULOS MARIA ZARIMIS Thesis presented for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Modern Greek University of New South Wales 2007 PLEASE TYPE THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES Thesis/Dissertation Sheet Surname or Family name: Zarimis First name: Maria Other name/s: Abbreviation for degree as given in the University calendar: Arts PhD School: Modern Language Studies Faculty: Arts and Social Sciences Title: The influence of Darwinism and Evolutionism on modern Greek literature: the case of Grigorios Xenopoulos Abstract 350 words maximum: (PLEASE TYPE) PROBLEMS INVESTIGATED:This thesis responds to a significant gap in modern Greek literary scholarship in relation to the Darwinian, post-Darwinian and other evolutionary theories and ideas in the works of Greek writers. My preliminary investigations show that there have been Greek writers who were influenced by Darwinian ideas. However, histories of modern Greek literature do not include Darwinism as a distinct influence in its own right, instead it only appears within the Greek naturalist school of the late 19th century; even when they discuss naturalist works influenced by evolutionary thought. This thesis primarily examines the Darwinian and post- Darwinian influence in select writings of Grigorios Xenopoulos in the period from 1900 to at least 1930. In doing so it attempts to reassess the status of these works and to argue for their importance in the context of other Greek and non-Greek literature. PROCEDURES FOLLOWED: This thesis takes on a cross-disciplinary approach drawing on the histories of science and of literature, on the biological sciences and other sciences. So as to establish a context for Xenopoulos’ work, I discuss the themes and issues associated with evolutionary ideas and draw on Greek and non-Greek writers from the 19th century first wave of Darwinism to the first decades of the twentieth century. GENERAL RESULTS: I am able to document that while there appears to have been a general delay in the transmission of Darwinian ideas to Greek creative writers, certain themes in their writings arise, responding to Darwinism, which are common to those of non- Greek writers. While there are differences in the treatments of these themes amongst writers, there are a number of main issues which arise from them which include class, gender and race, and are shown to be important in Greek society at the time. In addition, the direct implications of Darwin’s theory of evolution are debated in Greece by science and religion, and are discussed in the writings of Xenopoulos and his peers. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS: My examination of responses to Darwinism by Xenopoulos in the context of other Greek and non-Greek writers aims, firstly, to emphasise the importance of Xenopoulos and his work as a key literary influence in Greek society at the time; and secondly, to play a part in bringing modern Greek literature into the mainstream of European culture. The responses to Darwinism in literature, fiction and non-fiction, past and present, encompass a fascinating and controversial field of investigation which, in view of our scientific knowledge today, continues to address issues such as the nature-nurture debate, creationism versus evolution and man’s place in nature. Hence it is important that literary responses to the Darwinism of the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Greece be documented as a foundation for present literary responses. Declaration relating to disposition of project thesis/dissertation I hereby grant to the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or in part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all property rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstracts International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). …………………………………………………………… ……………………………………..……………… ……….……………………...…….… Signature Witness Date The University recognises that there may be exceptional circumstances requiring restrictions on copying or conditions on use. Requests for restriction for a period of up to 2 years must be made in writing. Requests for a longer period of restriction may be considered in exceptional circumstances and require the approval of the Dean of Graduate Research. FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Date of completion of requirements for Award: THIS SHEET IS TO BE GLUED TO THE INSIDE FRONT COVER OF THE THESIS 1.1: De l’origine des espèces par sélection naturelle ou des lois de transformation des êtres organisés, 1866. ii 1.2: La descendance de l’homme et la sélection sexuelle. iii CONTENTS Acknowledgements v List of illustrations vii Preface x Chapter One. Introduction 1 Chapter Two. The Darwinian impact on modern Greek literature 53 Appendix. Poem: Δαρβίνος and its English translation 99 Chapter Three. Xenopoulos: Darwinism and ‘Athenian Letters’ 105 Chapter Four. A re-reading of Rich and poor: it’s all in the eyes 157 Chapter Five. Transformation, regression and extinction in Tereza Varma-Dacosta 229 Chapter Six. New Woman, degeneration/regeneration and The descent of man 285 The three-sided woman 288 Τhe night of degeneration 314 Epilogue 331 Bibliography 338 iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Dr Vicky Doulaveras provided the spark for the idea of my thesis topic. To both her and her co-supervisor Dr Alfred Vincent I extend my sincerest thanks for their invaluable advice and supervision, and for generously lending me material from their personal collections. In addition, I thank Dr Vincent for his substantial assistance in the editing of my translations, particularly those in the katharevousa and for his meticulous advice with the reading of my thesis. In July 2006 Dr Doulaveras resigned from the University of New South Wales in order to pursue a new life in Greece. I am indebted to Professor Martyn Lyons, who then became my supervisor at that stage of my work. I found his advice to be of enormous help, particularly in the structuring of the thesis. His rigorous critique of my work was always sound, which he dealt with in a very positive manner, and so was very encouraging for me. I wish to thank Dr Eleni Amvrazi for encouraging me to take on the PhD. I also thank those academics who were able to assist me with the acquisition of primary and secondary sources of Greek material, which were difficult to obtain from Greece. These individuals include Professor Costas Krimbas, Professor Peter Bien, Lucia Prinou. I also thank Manos Haritatos at E.L.I.A. (The Hellenic Literary and Historical Archive), the Kostis Palamas Institute and the fantastic staff at both these libraries for allowing me to use their facilities. For material outside Greece, I thank the staff of the Interlibrary Loan Service at the University of New South Wales Library for their excellent service, as they were able to access every article or book that I required. I am also grateful for the APA scholarship (Australian Postgraduate Awards) which helped me with the expenses of travelling to Greece to pursue my work and also obtaining research material. Very special thanks goes to Ms Eleni Molfessi, Chief Librarian at the Institute for Byzantine Research and the Institute for Neohellenic Research at the National Hellenic Research Foundation (IBE-INE/EIE). There is no doubt that without her constant and tireless assistance with material, the completion of this thesis would not have eventuated. v Finally, I wish to thank my family; husband Tom and my children Michael, Liana and Nicola who have always been supportive, spurring me on from beginning to end. I particularly want to thank Michael for his computer expertise whenever I needed it. The wonderful memory of my mother has seen me through this work and I am grateful to my father for passing on to me the passion to enquire (George and Irene Maneas). vi LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 1.1: Title page of De l’origine des espèces par sélection naturelle ou des lois de transformation des êtres organisés, 1866 (The origin of species). Courtesy of the Kostis Palamas Institute in Athens. ii 1.2: Title page of La descendance de l’homme et la sélection sexuelle (The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex). Courtesy of the Kostis Palamas Institute in Athens. iii 1.3: Front page of the guide entitled Εγκόλπιον του γυναικείου φύλου ήτοι οδηγός εις την φυσικήν και ηθικήν ανατροφήν των γυναικών (The female sex’s handbook: a guide to the physical and moral upbringing of women). 48 3.1: Example of a front page of the Children’s Guidance (Διάπλασις των Παίδων). 115 3.2: One of Xenopoulos’ ‘Athenian Letters’ (‘Αθηναϊκαί Επιστολαί’) on Darwinism entitled ‘Things are serious’ (‘Σοβαρά τα πράγματα’). 116 3.3: The expression of the emotions of happiness and sadness in the Children’s Guidance (Διάπλασις των Παίδων) no. 27, 7 June 1941, p. 209. 152 3.4: The expression of the emotions of fear in the Children’s Guidance (Διάπλασις των Παίδων) no. 28, 14 June 1941, p. 220. 153 3.5: The expression of negative emotions such as sneering contempt and also those of pain in the Children’s Guidance (Διάπλασις των Παίδων) no. 29, 21 June 1941, p. 224. 153 4.1: Engravings from Charles Le Brun showing similarities between man and eagle physiognomies (Paris Bibliothèque des Arts Décoratifs). 180 vii 4.2: Engravings from Charles Le Brun showing similarities between man and fox physiognomies. (Paris Bibliothèque des Arts Décoratifs).