Change in the Chrysalids

902 Words4 Pages
The Chrysalids, written by John Wyndham and published by Penguin Books in 1958 is a compelling tale that follows David Strorm, a boy living in a dystopian post nuclear apocalyptic society located in a place named Labrador. This society has no technology, cars or electric lights, however it is an intensely religious one, that obsesses on eliminating anything or anyone that is different from the norm. Believing that God’s image is absolute and anything different “is a blasphemy against the true Image of God, and hateful in the sight of God” this dystopian society goes through extreme lengths to weed out anything or persons that are even slightly different. The Chrysalids focuses intensely on the themes of change and evolution as Labrador attempts to stamp out such thing, while other settlements embraces them and argue for their worth and importance. As one character theorizes “The essential quality of life is living, the essential quality of living is change; Change is evolution.” In the next few paragraphs, using elements from the text such as setting, characterization and conflict, I will be closely examine how this statement, along with the themes of change and evolution is echoed and reflected in the text, The Chrysalids. In any stage of life change happens and the characters in The Chrysalids each deal with change in there own way. We have David’s father Joseph who is extremely religious, along with the people of Waknuk goes through extreme lengths when it comes to change. The society as a whole, works to eliminate change and anything that is different. We see them burning entire fields of crops and slaughtering healthy animals because they are different or vary in size. In chapter nine a man named Jacob has to burn only his field of beans but potatoes, tomatoes and lettuce because it is considered tribulated. Joseph believes that mutants - people who are
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