The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1862.12.20. Amazement, powerless, astonishment. CUL-DAR195.2.8. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 5.2022. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR195 contains materials for Darwin's book Expression of the emotions (1872) organised roughly as: DAR195.1 blushing. DAR195.2 astonishment, fear. DAR195.3 indignation, rage, screaming, etc. DAR195.4 laughter, frowning, introduction.

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Dec. 20 — 1862 (after shrugging) amazement, powerless, astonishment, akin to fear which does not resist, is why [expressed] by widely open hand, lifted up to show the person who excites the feeling. You do not make any show of resisting the feeling by clenching your hands — you are paralysed & give up & show it to the person — I caught myself wishing to express astonishment at what some of my Boys were doing at a distance to get some notice, lifting up my open hands above my head, that they might see the open palms, which they well understood.

Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)