Berger exemplifies Vaucanson’s pursuit of perfect mechanical models for life by contrasting it with his own body in shambles. Vaucanson aims to master life in the universe by use of mechanics, and hopes that Newton’s equations will allow him to create life. He spends weeks precisely calculating the ratios for working parts in his duck, yet his own body parts fail to function. In the first discussion seen between him and Abbe about his work, we see Vaucanson’s focus shift from the design of his work to his own “gravel”. By the end of Act I, the perfect mechanical duck is completed, created by a man who could not even fix his own faulty parts. Spallanzani later commends his work on the duck; “Your clockwork duck will survive you” (90). To this,