The Chrysalids Character Analysis

The Importance of Leadership Without leadership is an escape possible? In the novel, The Chrysalids by John Wyndham, a group of teenagers attempt to escape from their town as they are being persecuted. Throughout their journey, they encountered various types of lifestyles outside of Waknuk as the East Coast of Canada beings to return to normality after a nuclear bomb destroyed everywhere. However, David, Rosalind, and Petra were able to escape safely with the Sealand lady as a result of Michael’s brave, calm and cool, and intelligent character. Michael’s first character trait leading to the success of the group’s escape was his bravery. Michael shows bravery throughout the novel, including when he decided to join the posse that was
Michael is the smartest person in the telepathic group as he went to school in Kentak, “Certainly, it was far too little to satisfy Michael’s parents, so they sent him to a school over in Kentak. There, he began to learn a lot of things our old ladies had never thought of” (Wyndham 81). Although Michael teaches some of the stuff to the group he is still more intelligent than the rest. He uses his intellect at various times including making a plan to help out the group, “My idea is to volunteer for one of them right away. I’m going to plant a report of your having been seen making south-west. When that peters out, we’ll have Mark start up another to take them north-west” (Wyndham 127). This quick but smart thinking buys David, Rosalind and Petra time to get a head start on their escape. Also, by having Michael join is another great idea as it allows Michael to keep David, Rosalind, and Petra up to date on what the posse is doing. Without Michael’s intellect, David, Rosalind, and Petra more than likely do not make it safely to the Sealand lady and their escape to Sealand. David, Rosalind, and Petra were able to escape safely with the Sealand lady as a result of Michael’s brave, calm and cool, and intelligent character. Michael shows his bravery by joining the posse in hunting for the three. Michael shows his calmness in tense situations. Finally, Michael’s intelligence plays a big part as he makes a plan to help David, Rosalind, and Petra. Escaping is not likely without the leadership of