Explain how The Chrysalids possesses universal qualities and whether the themes and ideas remain relevant.
In his novel, The Chrysalids, 1955, John Wyndham explores many universal qualities, such as discrimination and religion. Wyndham also touches minorly on many other qualities including loyalty, prejudice, judgement, conformity and of course eugenics. Throughout time it is evident to see that many of these themes and ideas present in the novel, The Chrysalids have remained relevant. Wyndham addresses discrimination in a relatively classic form- discrimination against those whom are different, or deviated in this case. Presently discrimination is still a major issue, not just in Australia but the whole world. Religion is a very large part …show more content…
The Oxford dictionary defines the word discrimination as being; “The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on grounds of race, age or sex.” The small farm district of Waknuk is set on finding and maintaining the true image of God by breeding out any deviations. It is simple to see that many of the characters in the novel are subject to discrimination because of these differences. Sophie, a harmless six toed child is forced to live outside of the district in the wild country known as the Fringes because of her difference. This small defenceless child is seen as hateful in the sight of God- as she is supposedly the work of the devil. Aunt Harriet is forced to kill her baby girl (and consequently herself) after her sister, Emily refused to help her cover her ‘monstrous’ child. Even David, the son of Joseph Stone is subject to discrimination because of his ability to communicate via thought shapes. Because of David, Rosalind and Petra’s differences they are forced to flee from the district of Waknuk to the Fringes. Sophie, Aunt Harriet’s baby, David, Rosalind and Petra are subject to discrimination and unjust treatment for their seemingly minor …show more content…
The people of Waknuk look to religion to explain things like Tribulation and the lives of the Old People with their rumoured carts pulled by non-existent horses and flying shiny fished things. From early on in the novel, The Chrysalids it is evident to see that religion is pushed upon the children from a very young age, David at the age of about 10, can recite the whole of The Definition of Man from the Repentances. It could be said that Wyndham uses his novel The Chrysalids to teach the reader about how barbaric some religions can be and what can happen when these religions become out of control. In fact the whole story is built around religion, without this theme the story scarcely exists, the discrimination
In his novel, The Chrysalids, 1955, John Wyndham explores many universal qualities, such as discrimination and religion. Wyndham also touches minorly on many other qualities including loyalty, prejudice, judgement, conformity and of course eugenics. Throughout time it is evident to see that many of these themes and ideas present in the novel, The Chrysalids have remained relevant. Wyndham addresses discrimination in a relatively classic form- discrimination against those whom are different, or deviated in this case. Presently discrimination is still a major issue, not just in Australia but the whole world. Religion is a very large part …show more content…
The Oxford dictionary defines the word discrimination as being; “The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on grounds of race, age or sex.” The small farm district of Waknuk is set on finding and maintaining the true image of God by breeding out any deviations. It is simple to see that many of the characters in the novel are subject to discrimination because of these differences. Sophie, a harmless six toed child is forced to live outside of the district in the wild country known as the Fringes because of her difference. This small defenceless child is seen as hateful in the sight of God- as she is supposedly the work of the devil. Aunt Harriet is forced to kill her baby girl (and consequently herself) after her sister, Emily refused to help her cover her ‘monstrous’ child. Even David, the son of Joseph Stone is subject to discrimination because of his ability to communicate via thought shapes. Because of David, Rosalind and Petra’s differences they are forced to flee from the district of Waknuk to the Fringes. Sophie, Aunt Harriet’s baby, David, Rosalind and Petra are subject to discrimination and unjust treatment for their seemingly minor …show more content…
The people of Waknuk look to religion to explain things like Tribulation and the lives of the Old People with their rumoured carts pulled by non-existent horses and flying shiny fished things. From early on in the novel, The Chrysalids it is evident to see that religion is pushed upon the children from a very young age, David at the age of about 10, can recite the whole of The Definition of Man from the Repentances. It could be said that Wyndham uses his novel The Chrysalids to teach the reader about how barbaric some religions can be and what can happen when these religions become out of control. In fact the whole story is built around religion, without this theme the story scarcely exists, the discrimination