Many
scientists and researchers such as Lombroso and Charles Darwin have studied
into the matter of degenerates. They have studied not only the physical factors
but also the nurture factor of degeneration. Thus, because of different aspects
of research each helps build a connection to understand degenerates. Thus
Charles Darwin through his evolution theory talks about the physical aspects of
degenerates while; Gina Lombroso continues Ceaser Lombroso’s work and studies
the nurture aspects of degenerates. And both come to the conclusion that degenerates
are due to primitive nature of humans. However, the difference is that Gina
Lombroso classifies all “criminals” as degenerates while; Darwin examines the
more obvious features of a degenerate criminal or not, and through that
examines their behavior.
Charles
Darwin in “Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals”, chapter 10 “Anger”,
writes about the physical features of degenerates and the causes behind them.
Through them he explains the “anger” that is showcased in degenerates by
comparing them to the behavior portrayed by animals. He starts with “The lips
are sometimes protruded during rage in a manner, the meaning of which alike I
do not understand, unless it depends on the descent from some ape-like animal”(Expression of the Emotions in Man and
Animals, pg 157). And continues with “the lips, however, are much more
commonly retracted, the grinning or clenched teeth being thus exposed”(Expression of the Emotions in Man and
Animals, pg 157) . He believed that such expressions are due to the fact
that some humans are evolving back into the primitive animal. He uses the
simile of crocodiles to explain behavior in children: “Everyone who has had
much to do with young children must have seen how naturally they take to biting,
when in passion. It seems instinctive to them as in young crocodiles, who snap
their little jaws as soon as they emerge from the egg” (Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, pg 158). Every
action whether in children or adult is connected to an animal.
Thus with the help of Dr. Maudsley,
Darwin expresses his theory on the reason behind humans developing back into
primitive animals. Darwin writes, “He adds, that as every human brain passes,
in the course of development, through the same stage as those occurring in the
lower vertebrae animals… it’s most primitive functions, and no higher
functions’”(Expression of the Emotions in
Man and Animals, pg 158). And continues that “the same view may be extended
to the brain in its degenerated condition in some insane patients” (Expression of the Emotions in Man and
Animals, pg 158). These functions include “snarls”, the “lip” and “obscene
language”. Thus further Darwin asked the question “Why should a human being,
deprived of his reason, ever become so brutal in character, as some do, unless
he has the brute nature within him?” (Expression
of the Emotions in Man and Animals, pg 158). With the help of this question Darwin answers:
“The difference consists solely in the upper lip being retracted in such a
manner that the canine tooth on one side of the face alone… other signs of rage
are not necessarily present” (Expression
of the Emotions in Man and Animals, pg 158). Here Darwin expresses that
due to the physical being of the degenerate a person would feel that the human
is angry; however, not always is that true. He believed more than real show of
anger it is an “expression” (Expression
of the Emotions in Man and Animals, pg 158).. And the expression is more of
a “playful sneer or ferocious snarl” (Expression
of the Emotions in Man and Animals, pg 158). Further he explains that this
expression “reveals his animal descent”. To emphasize his point Darwin gives
the example of the “anthropomorphous ape”: “We are readily believe… great
canine teeth”. Through the explanation of anger and the physical features Darwin expresses his view on the fact that humans are transforming back into primitive animals.
Gina Lombroso with the example the
brought-up of children, explained the reasons behind anger and criminality. Further,
following Cesare Lombroso she believed criminals are degenerates. Gina Lombroso
believed that “criminal is an atavistic being, of a relic of a vanished race”(Criminal Man According to the Classification
of Cesare Lombroso, pg 162). She explained this reasoning through stating
“the criminal instincts, common to savages would be found proportionally in
nearly all children, if not influenced by moral training and example” (Criminal Man According to the Classification
of Cesare Lombroso, pg 160). She continued “the child, like adults whose
abnormality consist of lack of moral sense” (Criminal Man According to the Classification of Cesare Lombroso, pg
161). She believed that children already showed signs of "anger" since their birth and thus if the anger was not directed then children would grow up to be criminals.An example she gave to prove her point was experiences of other
scientists such as Moreau. She explained that Moreau “cites numerous cases of
children…who would give away to violent anger, snatching up the nearest weapon”
(Criminal Man According to the Classification
of Cesare Lombroso, pg 161). In addition, she like Darwin believed that the human race was evolving back into primitive animals if not given any direction. She wrote “the dog left to run wild in the forest will in a
few generations revert to the type of his original wolf-like progenitor” (Criminal Man According to the Classification
of Cesare Lombroso, pg 162). To this theory she gave different causes
behind the criminal mind that ranged from “indirect heredity”, “race, “meteoric
causes” to “education” (Criminal Man
According to the Classification of Cesare Lombroso, pg 163).
In Conclusion, both authors even
though looked at different aspects of degeneration noted that this was the
cause of humans becoming alike to primitive animals. And that even if physically
degenerate or “criminal” being degenerate both show signs of the human
developing into an animal rather than developing intellectually. Thus, both
would conclude that a part of the human race is developing into primitive
animals due to their behavior or physical changes or both.
2 Ferreo Lombroso Gina. "Criminal Man According to the Classification of Cesare Lombroso". In The Strange Case of Dr.Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Toronto, Ontario: Broadview Press, 2005
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