Darwinism In Peter Heller's 'The Dog Stars'

The mystery of the apocalypse is a phantasmagoric fantasy that has fascinated humanity for generations. Peter Heller’s The Dog Stars is an insight as to what the world may look like during the aftermath of a pandemic apocalypse. In the text, the reader follows the journey of Big Hig and what trials he must go through to survive. Steve Almond, author of The Apocalypse Market is Booming, believes that apocalyptic books and films “offer no coherent moral agenda.” “Rather than inspiring audiences to reckon with the sources of our potential planetary ruin, they proceed from the notion that the apocalypse will usher in an era of sanctified Darwinism: survival of the most weaponized”. One may agree that the apocalypse will create the era of sanctified
Bangley is the most weaponized to survive the apocalypse and provides Hig with the protection he needs. This defines a type of Symbiotic relationship, mutualism, which is actually a contrary belief to Darwinism. NECSI (New England Complex Systems Institute) defines mutualism as “when two organisms of different species work together, each benefiting from the relationship”. In this apocalyptic scanario, the two species are Hig as a pilot who offer/s Bangley the ability to travel and Bangley as a ruthless killer who offers Hig protection. While Hig is a skilled hunter, he does not like to kill, whereas Bangley does not mind killing. This is why Bangley is most suited to survive, he is able to kill whomever and whenever while also wielding the most firepower. One example Bangley’s sanctified Darwinism is the scene where Hig is being chased by the men with swords and Bangley uses a mortar to kill them. “What the fuck happened? Bangley. What did you do?” “Mortar. 81 mil British. Had to use the fuckers sometime…Wanted it to be a surprise sometime, kinda like a birthday present.” (Heller 135). One can see here that Bangley has no issue exerting excessive force upon his enemies and even makes light of the situation. This is a perfect example of how the most weaponized are more prone to survival. Hig may have been chased down and stabbed if not for Bangley and his mortars. However, Hig
However, Peter Heller challenges this to great extents in his text and uses Hig to display how morals are unique for each individual. The idea of morality is subjective because there is no common theme or bottom line as to what the definition of morality must be. Albert Filice, an editor on Philosophy Now, states the nature of morality can not possibly be objective. “ we live in a world of moral flux, impermanence, and flexibility. And it is because of this that morality is not nor could ever be objective” (Filice). For example, Bangley treats the people with the Blood sickness as animals who do not deserve any help while Hig goes out of his way to assist them however he can. This speaks volumes for Hig’s character and one can immediately identify early on in the book that he is different than how others would act in the apocalypse. Hig holds on to his old life before the pandemic because it is who he is while Bangley does not dare mention his life from before. Hig is also a sensitive person, which is something that Bangley is not. One may believe that this is a trait that depends on your moral code because it defines if you are caring or not. Through the flashbacks that Hig provides for the reader, it is easy to see that the sensitive and caring side of Hig has not faded since the pandemic. For example, Hig has always needed a companion and someone to love as evident from his deceased wife and