Human Nature In The Chrysalids

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In the depths of human nature, there is always the choice to say no. In John Wyndham’s novel The Chrysalids, appearance is just as important as survival in a world where imperfection is the deviation of mankind as humans convey negative attributes. Firstly, human nature is negative through man’s corrupt perception of situations. Secondly, human nature is negative through man’s vicious behaviour. Finally, human nature is negative through the way man makes decisions. Therefore, John Wyndham’s novel The Chrysalids depicts a negative image of human nature. To begin, it is evident that human nature is negative through man’s corrupt perception of situations. Firstly, man is negative through their misunderstanding of another’s circumstance. For…show more content…
Firstly, man is violent towards one another. As Sophie, David’s friend, comes back to wash the bloody knife, the others are frightened as to what she had committed. “Rosalind, and Petra, too watched silently in horrid fascination as Sophie scooped up a bowlful of water from the bucket to wash her arms and clean the knife” (Wyndham 175). This proves that human nature is evidently negative because Sophie kills the guard for not allowing herself and her friends to through the gate. Although everyone is frightened because they have been taken hostage, Sophie ignores the fact and for the sake of her friends she resorts to violence and kills the guard. Hence, when one is blocked from getting to the other side of the door by another; they will kill the one trying to prevent them. One cannot stop but to use violence against the other. Lastly, man is cruel to one another. Emily Storm, mother of David Storm; the main character, recognizes that her sister's baby is a deviation and was sought to protect it from execution, her response was: “In all my life I had never hear anything so outrageous. To come here suggesting that I should enter into an immoral, a criminal conspiracy too… I think you must be mad Harriet” (Wyndham 71). This evidently proves Wyndham’s point that human nature is negative because realizing that her sister’s baby is not completely human, Emily is enraged as to what her sister has said, which is…show more content…
Firstly, man is deceiving to one another. David realizes that one of his group members deceived him and spoke the truth of his hidden ability. He realizes: "You're not – you don't mean she told Alan all about herself?' I protested. 'She did more than that, she told him all about you" (Wyndham 117). Clearly man carries a negative nature because David and his friends share a common ability which could get them killed and Katherine, one of David’s friends, told her boyfriend of that ability. To gain trust with her boyfriend Alan, she told her deepest secret. Thus, one will deceive the other out of various different reasons. When one feels that they benefit by telling the truth, they will speak of it, no matter the cause. Lastly, man is negative through their choice towards vengeance. Michael, friend of David, talks to him about the death of his best friend and that he will kill the one responsible for his friend's murder. He states: "It is war. Some day I'll kill them for what they've done to Katherine" (Wyndham 130). This clearly proves Wyndham’s point that human nature is negative because receiving news of her friend’s death; Michael is determined to do something about it. He commits himself to vengeance for the death of his friend. Hence, one will avenge for another's death. When one's friend is murdered, they will immediately act towards savagery, to kill the one responsible. Therefore, human nature is

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