Deformity In The Chrysalids
“It is thus tolerance that is the source of peace, and intolerance that is the source of disorder and squabbling,” said the famous French philosopher Pierre Bayle. In the novel, The Chrysalids by John Wyndham, the characters Sophie, Sally, and Anne worry about tribulation when it comes to being “normal” and tolerated by people. The author demonstrates the intolerance of physical deformities, mental abnormalities, and the inferior treatment of women in the town of Waknuk.
The intolerance of physical deformities is demonstrated by the unfair treatment of Sophie Wender because she was born with six toes on each foot. Due to her mutation, the Waknukians portrayed her as a deviant or blasphemy. When Alan found Sophie’s six-toed footprint, the Wender’s were forced to flee from Waknuk. The reader can see the feeling of isolation in the Wender family when Sophie exclaims “You've never known loneliness. You can't understand the awful emptiness that's waiting all around us here. Why didn't they kill me? It would have been kinder than this” (Wyndham 167). This quote shows how Sophie would have rather been killed than to suffer from heartache. Multiple signs are hung in David’s house explaining how deviants …show more content…
This shows how Waknuk firmly believes in the definition of man, as described in the Bible. As a result of this prejudice against people with physical malformations, the fringe people invoke battle against the Waknukians to fight for their acceptance in the town.
In addition to physical deformities, mental abnormalities are also unaccepted in the town of Waknuk. Sally, a telepath, is not addressed as a deviant immediately because her deviation cannot be seen with the eye. However, her abnormality is displayed as being intolerant because the Waknukians torture her due to her telepathic power. This action shows how cruel the Waknukians are to the fringes people. Overall, the telepaths are not accepted, and intolerance is greatly shown by the people of
The intolerance of physical deformities is demonstrated by the unfair treatment of Sophie Wender because she was born with six toes on each foot. Due to her mutation, the Waknukians portrayed her as a deviant or blasphemy. When Alan found Sophie’s six-toed footprint, the Wender’s were forced to flee from Waknuk. The reader can see the feeling of isolation in the Wender family when Sophie exclaims “You've never known loneliness. You can't understand the awful emptiness that's waiting all around us here. Why didn't they kill me? It would have been kinder than this” (Wyndham 167). This quote shows how Sophie would have rather been killed than to suffer from heartache. Multiple signs are hung in David’s house explaining how deviants …show more content…
This shows how Waknuk firmly believes in the definition of man, as described in the Bible. As a result of this prejudice against people with physical malformations, the fringe people invoke battle against the Waknukians to fight for their acceptance in the town.
In addition to physical deformities, mental abnormalities are also unaccepted in the town of Waknuk. Sally, a telepath, is not addressed as a deviant immediately because her deviation cannot be seen with the eye. However, her abnormality is displayed as being intolerant because the Waknukians torture her due to her telepathic power. This action shows how cruel the Waknukians are to the fringes people. Overall, the telepaths are not accepted, and intolerance is greatly shown by the people of