Chrysalids: Fear-Its Effects Within
Fear often leads to negative judgment and negative treatment. In the current society, discrimination is rooted from fear. John Wyndham’s book, The Chrysalids portrays the idea that discrimination is the effect of fear. Throughout the society of Waknuk, fear and ignorance cause a further advancement to harsh discrimination toward the supposed mutants or anything out of the Norm.
To begin with, Waknuk lives through distress of the Devil and God. Though the members of the society all strongly worship God, they all fear the idea of punishment due to the incorrect practices of the Bible and the perceived religion. Emily, David’s mother, is asked by her sister, Aunt Harriet, if she is kind enough to lend David’s newborn sister to her in order to pass a certain inspection. Harriet’s previous three births are all deviations. Furiously, Emily states, “I do not understand how you dared to come here, to a God fearing house, with such a suggestion,” (72) They fear God enough to not dare go against Him, even for their close family members. They are so loyal to God and His perceived religion that the members of Waknuk are willing to go against their own family. In addition, David has a minor accident involving a cut to his hand and he unintentionally states “I could have managed it all right by myself if I’d had another hand” (26). This leads to his father’s furious expression accompanied by “You-my own son-were calling upon the Devil to give you another hand!” (26) David’s father, like any member of the society, strongly disapproves of the devil. They are strongly afraid of God’s reaction.
The society follows many morals. One is “THE DEVIL IS THE FATHER OF DEVIATION.” (18) Waknuk attempts to rid itself from all mutants due to fear. They believe that the devil is linked to deviations therefore fear it as well. The community members in Waknuk all fear God and the Devil so they dare not go against the beliefs in any way whatsoever.
Furthermore, the consequences for going
To begin with, Waknuk lives through distress of the Devil and God. Though the members of the society all strongly worship God, they all fear the idea of punishment due to the incorrect practices of the Bible and the perceived religion. Emily, David’s mother, is asked by her sister, Aunt Harriet, if she is kind enough to lend David’s newborn sister to her in order to pass a certain inspection. Harriet’s previous three births are all deviations. Furiously, Emily states, “I do not understand how you dared to come here, to a God fearing house, with such a suggestion,” (72) They fear God enough to not dare go against Him, even for their close family members. They are so loyal to God and His perceived religion that the members of Waknuk are willing to go against their own family. In addition, David has a minor accident involving a cut to his hand and he unintentionally states “I could have managed it all right by myself if I’d had another hand” (26). This leads to his father’s furious expression accompanied by “You-my own son-were calling upon the Devil to give you another hand!” (26) David’s father, like any member of the society, strongly disapproves of the devil. They are strongly afraid of God’s reaction.
The society follows many morals. One is “THE DEVIL IS THE FATHER OF DEVIATION.” (18) Waknuk attempts to rid itself from all mutants due to fear. They believe that the devil is linked to deviations therefore fear it as well. The community members in Waknuk all fear God and the Devil so they dare not go against the beliefs in any way whatsoever.
Furthermore, the consequences for going