Marry/Not Marry List

The Marry/Not Marry List is the most prominent symbol of the book, and Heiligman roughly structures the book around the list. The list represents Heiligman’s main premise - that Charles and Emma’s successful partnership led directly to Charles’s success and notoriety. It is also an example of Charles’s note-taking and scientific approach - even when it came to the decision of whether or not to marry. It demonstrates the gendered flip of the book - that often the questions of marriage are written about women, but this list proves that marriage is equally influential on men - if not more so not only on the person, but also their work and legacy. The Marry/Not Marry list is referenced on the first page of the first chapter as Darwin lists reasons to marry or not to marry on...