In his book The Origin of Species, Charles Darwin examines the correlation and progression of plant and animal evolution in the Galapagos Islands and applies his theories to all countries many disciplines. Darwin's book introduces the theory that populations evolve over generations through the progression of natural selection, the process in which the most desirable traits that help an organism survive are passed on to subsequent generations. Gathering evidence from his voyage aboard HMS Beagle in 1830, he wrote his conclusions which involved a collation of his voyage writings, collation of data and analysis of the findings. Throughout his book, Darwin elaborates on his belief that species evolve over time and with each change or mutation, species become better adapted to their surroundings. Darwin summarizes this idea by stating: Man can only act on external and visible characteristics: nature is not concerned with appearances, except to the extent that they can be useful to some being. It can act on every internal organ, on every nuance of constitutional difference, on the entire mechanism of life. Man selects only for his own good; Nature only for the being it takes care of. (82-3) Darwin's doctrine includes themes from William Shakespeare's The Tempest and Phillis Wheatley's poem “On Being Brought from Africa to America.” Both tell the perspective of two seemingly different individuals who are surprisingly similar when analyzed more closely. Both Caliban and Wheatley have managed to survive in their respective enclosures because they are able to escape, whether for revenge or for creative expression of thought. Neither of them is willing to submit to the domination of the others, without a fight; ...... middle of paper ...... hem for one's own selfish gain; Prospero used Caliban to survive and Wheatley was used by his “family” for the notoriety of his work. Everyone chose to make the best of bad situations. Nature cares very little about Wheatley's outward appearance; she is given a pleasant facade and a gentle nature. Because of this, Wheatley is better equipped to fit into 1700s London society. Caliban, however, is outwardly hideous, and his adaptation lies solely in his acumen. Because of his hideous appearance, Caliban must act as an intruder in the island's events; he will never be seen as a member of “civilized” society. While Wheatley speaks of capitulation, Caliban refuses to "go in silence", uses his words "Thou hast taught me the tongue, and my profit therein / Is that I know how to curse" (Caliban 1.2) and repudiates surrender and states its check.