Group C "Venus and the Ark"

Denton, I completely agree with your assessment of how the poem combines science and religion.  The reason I believe Sexton does this is to stick it too humanity who has had many wars fought because of the dispute between religion and science.  Also I think at the end of the poem when the scientists hear the “new fruit drop” is an allusion to Adam and Even and how the drop of this new fruit is the beginning of a new cycle just like the one that began on earth.  I think that last line is the epitome of the combination of science and religion since it goes from referencing to evolution to alluding to religion.

My favorite part about this poem though is the evolution of the scientists, the last humans alive.  In the third stanza the scientists are portrayed as hopeful and excited as they start their journey on this new planet.  Then after seven months of testing they release all the animals and as life grows on Venus, so do the scientists’ despair. This goes back to the theme of religion and science co-existing because as the PhD’s, who are only worried about science as they enter this new planet after their old one was destroyed, become lonely and depressed as their science grows before their eyes.  This shows that these cold scientists have the same feelings and sentiments the rest of us have.  Overall this poem is masterful and combines to extremely controversial topics together into a well-flowing piece.