Social Darwinism

Social Darwinism is the major, overarching theme in the novel "Election" by Tom Perrotta. The idea of Social Darwinism -that the fittest survive -is properly applied to the cutthroat world of politics, and perhaps even more so to Winwood High School. Indeed, the first chapter of the novel speaks about the strong taking what they want, and positions the characters of Mr. M. and Tracy Flick against one another in a Social Darwinian tale.

Mr. M., for various reasons, wants to see Tracy Flick taken down a notch. She is an overachiever and had an affair with Jack Dexter, English teacher and friend to Mr. M. Jack loses his job, files for divorce, and goes to live at home because of the affair with Tracy. Tracy is also presented as a manipulative person with unchecked ambition. Mr. M. therefore engages Paul Warren to run for president against...