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Initially, I approached On the Origin of Species as a sort of autobiography.  Darwin writes in the first person singular as narrator and describes his thoughts and experiences to the reader.  I began to wonder whether the story of evolution might have begun differently had Wallace rather than Darwin published the first account?  How much did personality and literary talent contribute to the power of the story of evolution?

After Thursday’s discussion, I think I have a better idea of what it means to read a text as a novel.  A closer analysis of the text, presented some difficulties with my attempt to read the work as an autobiography.  Darwin does not consistently narrate in the first person singular.  He switches to the first person plural to emphasize specific points in his argument.  

“Before applying the principles arrived at in the last chapter to organic beings in a state of nature, we must briefly discuss whether these latter are subject to any variation” (122).  It appears that he is trying to engage the reader in the process of reasoning out his argument.  The narrator is acting as a guide or teacher to the reader.