The Origin of Species · Chapter
The Term, Struggle for Existence, Used in a Large Sense explained
Darwin introduces the term 'struggle for existence' in a broad and metaphorical sense, encompassing not only direct competition for resources but also dependence between organisms and the success in leaving progeny.
What happens
Darwin introduces the term 'struggle for existence' in a broad and metaphorical sense, encompassing not only direct competition for resources but also dependence between organisms and the success in leaving progeny. He illustrates this with examples such as canine animals competing for food, a plant struggling against drought, a plant competing with others for space, and the mistletoe's dependence on trees and birds for dissemination.
Themes in this chapter
Natural Selection and the Struggle for Existence
Darwin introduces the foundational concept of the struggle for existence, which is the driving force behind natural selection.
Characters to notice
- Charles Darwin
Author and narrator, defining the term 'struggle for existence' in a large and metaphorical sense.
Key passages
“I should premise that I use this term in a large and metaphorical sense, including dependence of one being on another, and including (which is more important) not only the life of the individual, but success in leaving progeny.”
Darwin clarifies that he uses 'struggle for existence' broadly, covering both dependence between organisms and the crucial aspect of reproductive success.
This sets the stage for the entire theory of natural selection.
“Two canine animals, in a time of dearth, may be truly said to struggle with each other which shall get food and live. But a plant on the edge of a desert is said to struggle for life against the drought, though more properly it should be said to be dependent on the moisture.”
Direct competition for food between animals is a clear struggle, while a plant's survival against drought is more about dependence than direct combat.
Illustrates the spectrum of meanings within the term.
“A plant which annually produces a thousand seeds, of which only one of an average comes to maturity, may be more truly said to struggle with the plants of the same and other kinds which already clothe the ground.”
A plant producing many seeds but only one surviving is in a struggle with other plants for space and resources.
Highlights the intense competition for survival among plants.
“The mistletoe is dependent on the apple and a few other trees, but can only in a far-fetched sense be said to struggle with these trees, for, if too many of these parasites grow on the same tree, it languishes and dies.”
Mistletoe depends on host trees, and only indirectly struggles with them when overgrowth harms the host.
Demonstrates dependence as a form of struggle.
“But several seedling mistletoes, growing close together on the same branch, may more truly be said to struggle with each other.”
Young mistletoes on the same branch directly compete with one another.
Shows direct competition among individuals of the same species.
“As the mistletoe is disseminated by birds, its existence depends on them; and it may metaphorically be said to struggle with other fruit-bearing plants, in tempting the birds to devour and thus disseminate its seeds.”
Mistletoe competes with other plants for bird dispersal by attracting birds to eat its seeds.
Extends the struggle to include indirect competition for pollinators or dispersers.