The Signature of All Things

The Signature of All Things takes up the theme of knowledge from several angles: what we know, how we know it, and how we learn what we don’t know. Although the novel is primarily concerned with the human pursuit of acquiring knowledge of the natural world, there are also subplots that deal with spiritual knowledge, self-knowledge, and the value of worldly experience as opposed to learning from books, and these interwoven pursuits fit together well, for at its most basic level, the true meaning of the term “scientist” is “one who seeks knowledge,” and Alma personifies this focus in every aspect of her life.

The novel posits knowledge as the core value and chief aim of Alma Whittaker’s life, and she explicitly reflects at one point that her only true desire is “to know things” (399). Whether as a small child seeking answers about natural behavior or as an adult seeking answers about the people she loves, Alma’s lifelong quest is to learn and understand the world around her. For the most part, people are not a focus of study, and this is clearly evidenced by her many interpersonal difficulties. As a young girl, she is mystified by Prudence’s behavior, but she doesn’t investigate this subject the way she pursues her botanical studies, for plants ultimately make more sense to Alma, as they are easier to categorize and theorize about and have a “magical orderliness” (80).