Chapter 11 Summary

A section of the poem Swammerdam, by Randolph Henry Ash, is displayed in this chapter. It is set in Germany in 1680. Swammerdam is 43 years old and near death. He goes back over his disappointing life in his final hours. He has tried to learn the origins of life and used microscopes to look at a whole new world of insects and microorganisms. His discoveries on the law of metamorphosis have landed on deaf ears. Everyone thinks he is insane. His father kicked him out on the street. None of his peers want anything to do with his findings. He has ended up a beggar. Swammerdam compares himself to Galileo. Galileo discovered the heavens, and Swammerdam discovered a universe in the reverse direction. He wonders if Galileo was equally in awe and fearful of God's creation.

Chapter 11 Analysis

A.S. Byatt gives the reader...