Charles Darwin grapples with the peacock's extravagant tail

In 1860, Charles Darwin was confronted with a dilemma regarding the peacock's tail, which he found distressing. This incident unfolded a year after he published his groundbreaking theory of evolution in 'On the Origin of Species.' The publication faced numerous criticisms, ranging from theological to practical inquiries about evolutionary mechanisms. Among these inquiries, the complexity of the eye stood out as particularly difficult to explain through gradual changes. However, Darwin’s most profound concern at that moment was about the existence of such flamboyant features in birds, like the peacock’s tail. He viewed its vibrant and impractical design as contradictory to the principles of survival of the fittest. The peacock's extravagant plumage seemingly defied his theory, leading him to express discomfort with its blatant absurdity. This turmoil hinted at a deeper struggle within Darwin’s ideas—how aspects of sexual selection might coexist with natural selection. The evidence of sexual selection, where certain traits evolve not necessarily for survival but to attract mates, became a central theme in his later works. Thus, the peacock's tail served as a catalyst for Darwin to further explore the complexities inherent in evolutionary biology.