Why the stories we tell are deeply rooted in our evolved human nature
Why do the same stories captivate us across continents and centuries? Why do we find tales of love, ambition, betrayal, and heroism in every culture, from ancient epic poems to modern streaming series?
For decades, literary theory has offered answers rooted in culture, history, and ideology. But a new school of thought is building a bridge to a surprising discipline: evolutionary biology. Evolutionary literary analysis argues that the stories we tell are deeply rooted in our evolved human nature. This approach, often called Literary Darwinism, claims that our literary behavior—what we write, what we read, and what resonates with us—is a product of ancient evolutionary pressures 1 .
This article explores how this consilient canon is built, examining the bridges connecting the science of human nature to the art of storytelling, and what this means for our understanding of the human experience.
Literature as a product of evolved human psychology
Bridging the gap between sciences and humanities
Exploring why certain narratives resonate across cultures
At its core, evolutionary literary theory proposes that literature is not merely a social or cultural construct. Instead, it is a natural activity rooted in the evolved and adapted human brain 5 .
This field, which some prefer to call "evocriticism," seeks to understand how human evolutionary history influences narrative structures, themes, and character development 4 . It operates on the principle of consilience—the idea that knowledge from different disciplines can be unified into a coherent whole 4 .
Evolutionary literary critics draw on several key concepts from biology and evolutionary psychology to analyze texts:
The process by which organisms develop traits that enhance survival and reproduction. In literature, this can refer to the analysis of characters' adaptive behaviors or even to the evolution of narrative forms themselves that are particularly effective at engaging human minds 4 6 .
The evolutionary tendency to help close relatives to promote the survival of shared genes. This concept illuminates themes of familial loyalty, sacrifice, and conflict in literature 4 .
Common behaviors and patterns found in all human cultures, such as jealousy, love, and the seeking of social status. Evolutionary critics argue that these universals form the core themes of our most enduring stories 1 .
A Literary Darwinist might read Shakespeare's Othello not just as a tragedy of jealousy, but as a dramatic exploration of mate-guarding behavior and paternity uncertainty—evolutionary concerns that would have had serious consequences for our ancestors.
One of the most compelling examples of evolutionary literary analysis in action is a large-scale empirical study that integrated methods from the social sciences and literary criticism.
The study analyzed a wide range of literary texts to ensure diversity in genre, historical period, and cultural origin.
Researchers identified and cataloged the primary and secondary motivations driving characters' actions throughout the narratives.
Using a framework derived from evolutionary psychology, motivations were categorized into key domains such as the pursuit of social status, mating, resource acquisition, kinship, and survival.
The patterns of motivation were then compared across different types of characters, specifically protagonists and antagonists, to identify significant statistical trends.
The study yielded a clear and consistent pattern that aligns with evolutionary predictions about human sociality.
| Character Role | Primary Motivations | Evolutionary Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Protagonist | Cooperation, altruism, seeking social belonging, fairness | Reflects prosocial adaptations crucial for group living and cooperation. |
| Antagonist | Pursuit of dominance, coercive power, unchecked selfishness | Reflects antisocial strategies that undermine group cohesion. |
For those interested in applying an evolutionary lens to literature, here are essential conceptual tools.
Analyzing how characters' behaviors and the narrative itself reflect traits that enhance survival or reproduction.
Exploring how universal human tendencies (e.g., emotion, cognition, sociality) are reflected and shaped in the text.
Examining how literature imitates or represents real-world human experiences and evolutionary challenges.
Identifying common story patterns (e.g., the hero's journey) that may have evolved for their adaptive value.
Understanding character actions, particularly sacrifices, in the context of the drive to promote the survival of genetic relatives.
Any new theoretical bridge must connect to the existing landscape. Evolutionary literary theory has faced its share of criticism, and engaging with these challenges is essential for its development.
Critics argue that reducing complex literary works to evolutionary explanations can strip them of their artistic and cultural richness 4 .
Prominent scholar Franco Moretti has argued that if Literary Darwinism does not improve our understanding of literary form, then it "will mean exactly nothing" 2 .
Some scholars question whether the evolutionary claims made about specific texts can be empirically tested and proven, rather than remaining as just-so stories 4 .
In response, evolutionary critics often position their work not as a demolition of previous theories, but as a new foundation upon which they can be integrated. As scholar Joseph Carroll suggests, traditional literary concepts can be integrated with a Darwinian conception of human nature 3 .
An evolutionary analysis of a novel like Pride and Prejudice does not necessarily invalidate a Marxist reading (about class) or a feminist reading (about gender roles). Instead, it can provide an underlying framework for why social status and mating strategies are such powerful motivators for characters like Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet in the first place 2 .
The project of evolutionary literary analysis is ambitious: to build a sturdy, two-way bridge between the sciences and the humanities. The bridge to science brings in rigorous empirical methods, testable hypotheses, and a deep understanding of human biology. The bridge from literary tradition carries forward the rich legacy of critical interpretation, cultural knowledge, and appreciation for artistic form.
The evolutionary hypothesis suggests it is more than decoration or abstraction. Literature is a fundamental, adaptive human technology—a "virtual reality" where we safely explore life's greatest challenges, practice our social skills, and ultimately, learn what it means to be human 6 .
While challenges remain, the potential is profound. By understanding the evolutionary roots of storytelling, we may not only unlock new interpretations of individual texts but also answer a more fundamental question. As this consilient canon continues to be built, it promises a more unified and scientifically grounded understanding of our timeless need to tell and hear stories.
This article was informed by academic research in the fields of evolutionary psychology and literary theory.