In Evolution We Trust?: England Puts Charles Darwin on the Back of Its Ten Pound Bank Note
If you’re not British, or rarely handle English money, perhaps you’ve never noticed that Charles Darwin is on the back of the ten pound note:
Along with the depiction of Darwin, we get compass markers, a ship (presumably the Beagle), and a curious image of a hummingbird agitated by the magnification of a flower.
And notice that Darwin’s bald forehead and flat expression visually echoes the sun and calmed sea on which the Beagle floats. In other words, Darwin’s head is bulbous, like the sun, and his mouth is represented by a horizontal line, like the sea.
This is Darwin as an institutional Apollo taming nature’s “seas”—its once confusing Dionysian mysteries.
I also see, in this representation of Darwin, echoes of the ancient Mesopotamian image of Marduk taming the sea dragon, Tiamat:
In short, Darwin is an authority figure who brings order to nature.
He is thus a logical representative of the glory days of British exploration, intellectual innovation, and imperial power. Further, his scientific insights have carried, for over a century and a half, like the Bank of England, a certain all encompassing, global weight.
Nestled in the lower corner of the British ten pound note, Darwin thus makes for a comfy fit with Britain’s institutional and cultural self-image as a nation committed to reason and global order.
I love this! Thanks for teaching me something today!
Stacy S.
August 13, 2008 at 6:41 am
England will be vanquished, just as Rome because it has become immoral, and a haven for gays and so called progressives (degenerates as they are called in the USA).
I love my English brethren, but unfortunately many of them trust in an unsubstantiated theory that has neither start, nor finish, and has forgotten that her “Glory Days” were encompassed by great revivals, and the reformation of not throwing off the Catholic Church, but understanding GOD in a more PERSONAL way.
Unfortunately the USA is heading that direction, and eventually, we will be shadows and dust in history, a memory of what a great Godly Society WAS and COULD BE.
Thomas Hubbard
November 13, 2008 at 9:36 pm
“Unsubstantiated theory”? Really, Thomas, you ought to try to read a few books. It’s not that hard. For starts, I recommend “Why Evolution Is True” (just released), an excellent, up-to-date introduction.
Hempenstein
February 23, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Thomas .
Are you confusing ‘England’ with the UK which was the home of the ‘British Empire’. If you think England or the UK for that matter is the new Whore of Babylon I suggest you look a little closer to home for a better contender. Unfortunately the UK takes its cultural, economic, foreign policy etc etc cues from the US nowadays. We only learn how to be bad from you!
Santi
Well done for a very interesting analysis of £10 note.
Hemp
Evolution remains a THEORY.
aunty dawkins
February 25, 2009 at 7:49 am
Yes, in the same sense that *gravity* is a theory.
Steve
Steve Weeks
August 31, 2009 at 2:25 pm
“And notice that Darwin’s bald forehead and flat expression visually echoes the sun and calmed sea on which the Beagle floats. In other words, Darwin’s head is bulbous, like the sun, and his mouth is represented by a horizontal line, like the sea.”
Ummm..Or maybe that is just what he looks like..lol
citizenkn
June 18, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Citizenkn:
Okay, and sometimes a cigar is just a cigar!
—Santi
santitafarella
June 18, 2009 at 1:47 pm
hello i would like to use the picture of the £10 note i am doing an IT project it will be not used for anyother use can you get back to me within 3 days it can be assumed i can use it
Durga
October 23, 2009 at 11:24 am
Durga:
I took the photo of the British note. I’m okay with you using it for a class project.
—Santi
santitafarella
October 23, 2009 at 12:23 pm