RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1858.06.22. Unpleasant chain of thought. CUL-DAR195.4.1. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 6.2022. 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.
[1]
June 22/58/ If we describe anger & [illeg] yet one wishes to change unpleasant train of thought, one involuntarily throw
[insertion:] one shuts eye in dark at horrid [imagined] sight
head on one side, as if to avoid seeing something (so dog) Shut eye in dark it or that of horrid sight
25
[Expression, pp. 33-4: "I have noticed that persons in describing a horrid sight often shut their eyes momentarily and firmly, or shake their heads, as if not to see or to drive away something disagreeable; and I have caught myself, when thinking in the dark of a horrid spectacle, closing my eyes firmly."]
[1v]
If a dog is shown food, but is prevented from taking it, he will [sourly] turn his head on one side not to see it, so as if possible to forget it, (as I have noticed very true) so we do if we wish to forget or [brush] some unpleasant train of thought.
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 25 September, 2022