Perspective In The Chrysalids

Perspective, an attitude toward or way of regarding something, is abstract; many individuals have their own beliefs and will often go to great lengths to maintain and pass on these ideals. Perspective is made up of what a person has learned and experienced within their lifetime, making it difficult to change beliefs and values. This can cause complications, as an individual will often become possessed with proving their own convictions correct. In John Wyndham’s novel The Chrysalids, the character of David Strorm, a telepath in a religious community watchful of abnormality, struggles with the beliefs forced upon him, particularly by his zealous father. However, David does not adhere to his community’s belief, instead creating his own unique …show more content…
At the beginning of chapter six, David is explaining to the other telepaths what happened to Sophie; he told them of her deviation, her discovery, and eventual capture by the authorities, though he was unsure of what happened to her after she was caught. David tries to convey a message to the other telepaths, stating, “ …I tried to explain that a person with a deviation – a small deviation at any rate – wasn’t the monstrosity we had been told…They received that very doubtfully indeed.”(Page 53) Within the quote, David explains to the other telepaths that not all deviations are evil, as Sophie had taught him, but they are skeptical of this idea. This quote illustrates how difficult it is to believe that deviations are not entirely malevolent, even by individuals who possess an abnormality themselves. In addition, the idea of the true image has been such a core belief for the entirety of their lives, proving that to change the perspective of the norm is no easy task. Furthermore, the reader is also given a glimpse as to how David’s own beliefs transform after the loss of Sophie and other adversities. He has changed from believing everything he is taught, to questioning the ideals around him. Through David, it is shown how throughout life, an individual’s perspective will change …show more content…
As the trio continues their venture, Rosalind kills a man that was following their trail. Distraught, Rosalind does not understand why the residents of Waknuk are hunting them down. Michael explains, ‘“ We’ve been living amongst them for nearly twenty-years and they didn 't suspect it…They’re afraid of us…It isn 't just a question of the true image, though that’s what they’re making it appear. What they’ve seen is that we could be a real danger to them.’”(Pages 131-132) Michael clarifies that the residents of Waknuk are afraid of the telepaths as they have gone against everything they have ever known to be true. They fear them because they have no physical indication of abnormality and, more importantly, they fear the telepaths are dangerous. Moreover, the fact that the telepaths defy everything their community has ever known is particularly significant, as the citizens of Waknuk cannot know for a fact that the telepaths counteract the true image — the Image of God is of the body, not of the mind. This in mind, those of the commonality may be alarmed, because the telepaths may be closer to the true image than they are. Furthermore, the telepaths are cited as a danger to the residents of Waknuk, as no one knows what they could be