alexm22’s Blog

The last responses of many of the Spoon River character’s involve something they have learned about life and usually a criticism. On page 61 Professor Newcomer discusses the concept of human will and how nature makes human’s the way they are. Newcomer relates a man named Col. Prichard to nature. Prichard buys an engine so powerful that it wrecked itself and the other machinery. Nature evolves apes to men and men into creatures with a spiritual life. The Professor Newcomer protests that giving the man the thoughts of hope and progression is evil because this world cannot supply them. He envies animals like apes that only have to , “Get food and shelter and procreate themselves,” (61). This person says that these basic necessities are all the world has to offer. It seems like Newcomer has little or no faith in God and sees human intellect as a waste. He also recognizes that most people overlook the possibility that nature could have made a mistake.