The Chrysalids by John Wyndham - Utmost Faithful Beliefs
As a glimpse into a possible near future, The Chrysalids by John Wyndham provides the reader with a dramatic sci-fi experience in a cruel, merciless world that experienced nuclear devastation. Being a post-atomic society, the citizens are left to pick up the pieces and start over. The little town of Waknuk consists of arrogant, narrow-minded, and paranoid people who believe that every person who does fit the true image of God, is the spawn of the Devil. This prophetic civilization is built upon an extreme form of Christianity, where religious beliefs are taken to extremes, refusing the existence of any changes and differences. This extremity is emphasized through two introductory characters; …show more content…
Throughout David’s whole childhood, he has always been taught to honour the Repentances by his father. Joseph is a religious, abusive, and uncompassionate man. He forces deviants to live in other areas that are filled with savagery called the Fringes so that the Waknuk would be a purified village. They are pushing deviations out of their sight so that their world can be perfect and pure. Joseph Strorm is very dogmatic and detached in the way he acts towards his son, David, and others in the town of Waknuk. Joseph Strorm’s inhumanity is emphasized when David mentioned that, “my [his] father's faith was bred into his bones, his principles his sinews, and both respond to a mind richly stored with examples from the bible and Nicholson's Repentances.” (2, 16) In one incident, David Strorm wishes he had a third hand to make tying a rag easier. To not be happy with the body God has given is extremely blasphemous in Waknuk, especially in the Strorm household. When David’s father, Joseph Strorm hears this, he is relentless in his vocal anger, and he verbally abuses his son, “You - my own son - were calling upon the Devil to give you another hand!” (3,26) With fierce anger, and again, a lack of compassion, he says to his son, “Pray, you wretched boy, for a forgiveness you do not deserve.” (3, 27) Being strict may be a positive personality trait, but at an extremity like Joseph’s, it can be deleterious to those around
As a glimpse into a possible near future, The Chrysalids by John Wyndham provides the reader with a dramatic sci-fi experience in a cruel, merciless world that experienced nuclear devastation. Being a post-atomic society, the citizens are left to pick up the pieces and start over. The little town of Waknuk consists of arrogant, narrow-minded, and paranoid people who believe that every person who does fit the true image of God, is the spawn of the Devil. This prophetic civilization is built upon an extreme form of Christianity, where religious beliefs are taken to extremes, refusing the existence of any changes and differences. This extremity is emphasized through two introductory characters; …show more content…
Throughout David’s whole childhood, he has always been taught to honour the Repentances by his father. Joseph is a religious, abusive, and uncompassionate man. He forces deviants to live in other areas that are filled with savagery called the Fringes so that the Waknuk would be a purified village. They are pushing deviations out of their sight so that their world can be perfect and pure. Joseph Strorm is very dogmatic and detached in the way he acts towards his son, David, and others in the town of Waknuk. Joseph Strorm’s inhumanity is emphasized when David mentioned that, “my [his] father's faith was bred into his bones, his principles his sinews, and both respond to a mind richly stored with examples from the bible and Nicholson's Repentances.” (2, 16) In one incident, David Strorm wishes he had a third hand to make tying a rag easier. To not be happy with the body God has given is extremely blasphemous in Waknuk, especially in the Strorm household. When David’s father, Joseph Strorm hears this, he is relentless in his vocal anger, and he verbally abuses his son, “You - my own son - were calling upon the Devil to give you another hand!” (3,26) With fierce anger, and again, a lack of compassion, he says to his son, “Pray, you wretched boy, for a forgiveness you do not deserve.” (3, 27) Being strict may be a positive personality trait, but at an extremity like Joseph’s, it can be deleterious to those around