Mathematics, Nature, and Fate Theme Analysis

Thomasina’s project, tragically cut short by her early death, is to find a formula that will express not lines, circles, or other perfect geometric shapes, but the natural forms of nature: “If there is an equation for a curve like a bell, there must be an equation for one like a bluebell” (Act 1, Scene 3). Thomasina also believes that a comprehensive formula to describe nature will allow her to predict the future. She makes several discoveries, even without advanced knowledge of math. One breakthrough is her understanding that hot things cool down to room temperature, but room temperature things don’t heat up, a concept that Newton did not describe in his laws of physics. In the modern day, Valentine, who studies similar topics at Oxford, interprets Thomasina’s discovery, explaining how this one-directional type of physics relates to the universe’s tendency towards equilibrium: “It’ll take a while, but we’ll all end up at room temperature” (82). Energy tends to leave, not arrive. So although the future is not as specifically predictable as Thomasina would like, she’s correct that what’s true of a bowl of rice pudding is true of the universe, and they both end up at the same low-energy point.

Another significant piece of Thomasina’s exploration is the graphing she makes by iteration, using the result of the previous function to make a new function. Valentine explains that contemporary science uses iteration to understand population changes and other major topics. However, iteration won’t allow predictions of the future either—instead, it shows how tiny changes can have a huge effect, and demonstrates that “the future is disorder” (Act 1, Scene 4). Thomasina’s discoveries and her focus on destiny not only link her to Valentine, but also to the play’s larger concerns about beauty, death, and truth.