The Origin of Species · Character
Agassiz
A prominent naturalist who opposed the theory of evolution.
minor
Also known as Agassiz, Mr. Agassiz
First appearance: vi difficulties of the theory
Agassiz's tie to Charles Darwin is one of the pressures that moves The Origin of Species—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.
Noted the anomalous nature of blind cave fish such as Amblyopsis.
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With Charles Darwin (rivalry): Agassiz was a prominent scientific opponent of Darwin's theory, advocating for special creation and polygenism. In Effects of the Increased Use and Disuse of Parts, as Controlled by…
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See Agassiz in vi difficulties of the theoryCharacter Web
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- Rivalry
- Other
Character groups
- Broad intellectual network
- Protagonist
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Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This passage marks the story's dramatic climax because Darwin shifts from a defensive posture against objectio…
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- Charles Darwin
rivalry · negative
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Relationship notes
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See Agassiz in vi difficulties of the theoryIn the story
Agassiz appears across 9 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
- Effects of the Increased Use and Disuse of Parts, as Controlled by Natural Selection
- On the Imperfection of the Geological Record
- On the Absence of Numerous Intermediate Varieties in Any Single Formation
- On the Sudden Appearance of Whole Groups of Allied Species
- On the Sudden Appearance of Groups of Allied Species in the Lowest Known Fossiliferous Strata
- On the Affinities of Extinct Species to Each Other, and to Living Forms
- On the State of Development of Ancient Compared with Living Forms
- Dispersal During the Glacial Period
- +1 more
Chapter companion notes
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See Agassiz in vi difficulties of the theory