preview

The Chrysalids is a Dark Book by John Wyndham

Decent Essays

The Chrysalids by John Wyndham is a dark book where the plot, characters and setting are all influenced by death. The word “Chrysalid” is a scientific term which refers to the larva that most insects pass through before becoming adults. John Wyndham metaphorically compares this definition to the story by comparing this process to humans. He is saying that the state humans were in before Tribulation was a “baby” state and now they are maturing into adults. It does not come at an easy price; sacrifice and death affect the process of change. The influence of prejudice and bigotry throughout The Chrysalids leads to death in the lives of Sophie Wender, Aunt Harriet and Joseph Strorm. Firstly, resulting from prejudice and bigotry Sophie is killed tragically. Since Sophie was born with a mutation (a sixth toe) the community of Waknuk’s views towards Sophie’s extra toe force Sophie and her family to flee to the Fringes. The Fringes is a dry wasteland where all deviations (mutations) are sent to die upon their discovery. After Sophie and her family fled; the inspector a man who monitors mutations speaks to David about Sophie’s toe, telling David the seriousness of the situation. “Not reporting a human deviation is a very, very serious thing. People go to prison for it.”(51). Being pushed to the Fringes because of prejudice and bigotry brings Sophie one step closer to her own demise. Consequently, her new life is filled with darkness, starvation and loneliness in which death slowly

Get Access