This chapter will discuss the effect of Malthus, Darwin and Galton's propositions concerning the controlling of human breeding on Modernist and early science fiction writing.
The influence of Darwin's theories regarding evolution can be felt in the writing of some prominent modernist writers. Gillian Beer remarks, "There is no need to assert the prevalence of evolutionary ideas during Virginia Woolf"s lifetime and we know that had had direct effects upon her early family circumstances.' (Beer, 1996: 19) A diary entry by Virginia Woolf remarks upon an encounter with a group of people with learning difficulties. She ends the entry with, "they should certainly be killed" (Woolf cited in Childs, 2001:10)
Childs writes of the sometimes subtle influence of eugenics on Modernist writers, "I draw particular attention to significant parallels between eugenical texts in general and particular texts by these writers - texts that might otherwise seem remote from eugenical influence." (Childs 2001, 14 - 15). Childs postulates that Woolf subtly suggests eugenical ideas in her texts "The logic of association by which her narrative gaze shifts from the prostitute to the child of the prostitute to the little thief is implicitly eugenical" (Childs 2001, 45).
D H Lawrence writes of his wish to build a lethal chamber "the size of the Crystal Palace" (Lawrence cited in Childs, 2001:10).
He would then gather together "the sick, the halt and the lame" and would "gently lead them and they would give me a smile of weary thanks" ( Lawrence cited in Childs, 2001: 10) In Lady Chatterley's Lover (1928), Lawrence portrays Sir Clifford as impotent and disabled with Oedipal tendencies. Mellors is strong, virile and not disabled.
At the start of Lady Chatterley's Lover Lawrence describes the beginning of Sir Clifford and Lady Chatterley's married life, "They came to start housekeeping and married life in the rather forlorn home of the Chatterleys on a rather inadequate income." (Lawrence, 1980: 1) A forlorn home and an inadequate income give the impression of impotence in that Sir Clifford is unable to earn enough money and cannot afford to have his home renovated. The association of disability with impotence is enforced by Lawrence's description of Sir Clifford as "Crippled for ever, knowing he could never have any children." (Lawrence, 1980, 2)
Lawrence associates disability with impotence and also implies that Sir Clifford is unable to care for himself.
Big and strong as he was he was helpless. He could wheel himself about in a wheeled chair ... But alone he was like a lost thing. He needed Connie to be there, to assure him that he existed at all. (Lawrence 1980, 13)
It is interesting that Sir Clifford, a war hero and permanently damaged by that war is shown such little sympathy. He needs Connie to bolster his self-esteem and is a victim of the attitudes of the time. The people of the nearby village are apathetic towards him, and upon his return from the war, "There had been no welcome home for the young squire, no festivities, no deputation, not even a single flower." (Lawrence 1980, 11)
This negative imagery of a person with impairment is reflected in many works of Modernist literature. In Between The Acts (1941) Virginia Woolf presents us with a character called Albert - the village idiot,
“Albert having the time of his life,” Bartholomew muttered.
“Hope he doesn't have a fit.” Lucy murmured
“I know… I know…” Albert tittered ...
“The village idiot,” whispered a stout black lady. (Woolf 2000, 54)
Woolf expresses a commonly held view of the time, that someone with epilepsy is also an idiot.
In the futuristic Brave New World, Aldous Huxley presents a utopian existence brought about by the use of eugenics. As English remarks,
Any form of eugenics, be it of the right or the left, sought greater social and
human uniformity. As the socialist Aldous Huxley put it, “We can't do much practical eugenics until we have more or less equalized the environmental opportunities of all classes and types - and this must be done by leveling up.” (English 2004, 77)
In Brave New World, the story begins, set in the future at a place known as Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre. Its Director is giving new students a guided tour around the Centre where babies are created in bottles and we read, "how the eggs which it contained were inspected for abnormalities, counted and transferred to a porous receptacle." (BNW, 16). One of Huxley's characters, Mr. Foster comments about a fault that may occur during the decanting process of baby creation, "At seventy per cent of normal oxygen you got dwarfs. At less than seventy, eyeless monsters. “Who are no good at all.” Concluded Mr. Foster" (BNW, 23). A clear reference to a eugenical view that blind people are useless.
