Evolution in Hawthorne's Rappaccini's Daughter and Bear's Blood Music

Evolution in Science Fiction

The idea of evolution is an inevitable process that any "living" being undergoes in order to adapt and survive in one's environment. Charles Darwin's "survival of the fittest" theory in evolution becomes a major thematic display within the world of science fiction. By analyzing Steven Johnson's "The Myth of the Ant Queen," one can increase one's comprehension regarding science fiction writing and the aspect of evolution.

Johnson's "The Myth of the Ant Queen" takes a brief look at the civilized and organized structure of the ant society and compares it to the hustle and bustle of New York City's subway system. But this comparison is not the only theme found within Johnson's short essay. In fact, one can see where evolution plays a part regarding the ant society. The essay describes the movements and tasks of the harvester ants and debunks the "myth" that the general populace believes of the ant queen's role as the sole sentient being in the colony.

While the ant queen is indeed highly protected and accommodated within the colony, this is not necessarily an indication of the ant queen giving orders to her horde. Johnson illustrates that it is absolutely impossible for the ant queen to direct orders to every worker ant in the colony, yet the ant queen's survival is of utmost importance to the flock of ants. This is due to the fact that it is the ant queen that provides the numbers for the colony; it is the ant queen's responsibility to further the ant colony's race. Because of the strong urge to survive, the ants predictably protect their main breeder. How else would they continue to grow and expand their society otherwise? Thus Johnson's observation becomes clear: it is not the ant queen that "[trains] her servants to protect her;" on the contrary, "evolution does" (Johnson).

This analysis of "The Myth of the Ant Queen" can explain the process of evolution within the throes of science fiction writing. In order to understand evolution, one must take into account the way in which the writers view living beings. Any sentient civilization will want to continue its progress, and the ant colony is but one of many sentient groups that try to survive and adapt in order to breed into the next generation. Other writers have picked this idea up, and even the likes of Nathaniel Hawthorne and Greg Bear dominate their science fiction stories with this idea of evolution within intelligent, aware beings.