Torah Reflection

The Chrysalids is a book full of hatred, unethical behaviour and evil. The evil taking place in Waknuk is the intolerance of those who are different . Of all the characters in the Waknuk society, Joseph Strorm is the most evil. Due to his unethical beliefs, religious perversion and hateful violence, Joseph Strorm is the epitome of evil in the Waknuk society.

Joseph’s brothers traveled to Egypt to buy food, and there he revealed himself to his brothers and they apologized to him for what they did to him. Josephs forgave them and sent for his father Jacob and the rest of his

Jacob’s preferential treatment towards Joseph was destructive, and created dissension among Joseph’s brothers (fueled sibling rivalry –

Joseph began his life as the favorite son of Jacob who tended to the flocks as a shepherd.3 These humble beginnings foreshadow how one day Joseph will tend to the Seed of the Woman during times of famine in the land by giving food to this eleven brothers. Jacob, who was the son of Isaac, had eleven other sons who were jealous of the special attention that Joseph received. In fact, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.4 Joseph had a dream that predicted that Joseph would one day reign over his older brothers. This upset his brothers and they tricked Joseph by selling him into slavery. Joseph was then taken to Egypt where he was sold to Potiphar and became a servant in

The one real mistake I believe we can make in life is to not learn from missteps

Losing his brother was heartbreaking for Joseph. He was important to the tribe. Still, the Nez Perce fount to keep their land and live in the valley. Eventually Joseph became tired and sent a note to General Howard which read,

“…and then he took hold of my hands and told me, plain and quiet, that while nothing could ever replace Moses Cooper in my head, I could turn to him just as I would to a father.” (Fast #135) Even though he does not have to do this, he goes out of his way to, just because he is such a kind person. Joseph is just overall a kind man, who puts others before

So when Joseph came to them, they took off his beautiful robe and they threw him in an empty well. Then they sold him to people that were going to Egypt. The brothers took the robe and dipped it in animal’s blood and brought it to their father. They told Jacob that an animal killed him. Jacob was really upset. Joseph was now in Egypt working as a slave. He was Potiphar’s helper and made him mandated of everything he owned. Then the Pharaoh sent him to jail. After some time in jail a cupbearer and a baker’s Pharaoh had a dream that he was going to get out of jail soon. Joseph told them to tell the Pharaoh about him but the cupbearer forgot. Two years later the Pharaoh had a dream, but nobody could understand it. Then the cupbearer remembered what Joseph did for him, and Joseph was brought to Pharaoh. Joseph explained him and the Pharaoh believed all that he told him, and put him in charge of all the land of Egypt. People came from all over to buy grain from Joseph, including Joseph's brothers. When his brothers came, Joseph was able to recognize them, but they did not. Joseph told them that he was their brother and even thought they were afraid Joseph was not mad at them because he knew that God had a better plan for him. After it his entire family moved to Egypt

plotting revenge over the years since he last saw his brothers, Joseph is able to develop a

The story of Joseph in the Bible begins with explanations of Joseph’s youth and innocence and how his brothers were jealous of him because he was the “blessed son”. It involves a lot of specifics, like it mentions that Joseph was seventeen years

Joseph was the first born child of Rachel and because he was born to Jacob in his old age, Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons and made Joseph a richly ornamented robe, therefore Joseph’s brothers hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. Joseph also had dreams that indicated that he would reign over his brothers and this caused more hatred toward him. His brothers were jealous of the love that he received from their father and because of his dreams. Consequently, Joseph’s brothers plotted to kill him but instead they sold him to some Ishmaelites that were passing through to Egypt.

It is important to know that “In antiquity, dreams were thought to be signs from divine powers exposing their intent” (Plaut, 388). This view toward dreams makes Joseph’s gift very valuable. Throughout the writing we see that “Dreams play an important role and hint at unusual developments” within the story (Plaut, 360). The dreams come in three different episodes, each episode contains two dreams. This is one form of repetition that is used with regard to the dreams (cfr. Humphreys, 97). The first set of dreams occurs at the beginning of the narrative. Joseph has a dream and he goes to share it with his brothers: “There we were binding sheaves in the field, when suddenly my sheaf stood up and remained upright; then your sheaves gathered around and bowed low to my sheaf” (Gen. 37:7). The brothers are extremely disgusted with Joseph and they see his dream as a purposeful attempt to mock them and show his power over them (cfr. Levenson, 75). They already do not like him because he is the favorite son, but they hate him even more after his dream. The second dream which occurs within this episode is similar to the first. This time Joseph describes the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowing down to him. Joseph’s brothers and father take exception to his dream.

His wife responds by saying “He used to do that when he was a little boy…” When he passes the Pacheco house he notices that the attic window still seems to mock him. Also, when Joseph runs into Frankie, his best friend from childhood, Frankie mocks him by saying “And now you’re stuck back here for good.” Frankie is almost daring Joseph to leave and this is a real turning point in the story for it is here that Joseph responds “I’m not stuck here.” For the first time in the story Joseph realizes that he is not as trapped on the island as he had imagined himself to be. The continual insults and mocking force Joseph to finally stand up for himself and he realizes that he has the power to change his situation.

One of the inherent conflicts in the story of Joseph is the tension between Joseph and his brothers. The tension between them is caused by both Jacob and Joseph. First, Jacob shows favoritism toward Joseph, because he is the son of his favorite wife Rachel. Second, Joseph brings back bad reports when he is out pasturing with his brothers. However, what truly increased the hatred and jealousy was the Joseph’s dreams. The author notes that when Joseph recounts the dreams, “they hated him even more (Gen. 37:8).” Their jealousy for Joseph is strong enough that they are willing to murder him. However, they decide to instead sell him into slavery, and convince Jacob that he was killed.

Joseph then found himself here in jail wrongfully accused of doing something he had no intent on ever doing. He woke up in a great startle he finally had seen it, he had seen the darkness of his life, but bigger yet he had seen how positive things still had become, out of the most despicable times. He could also see how his heavenly father is a majestic, powerful heavenly father has even been with him in the darkness. He also began to see how all he had done was to the glory of God and he became reminded of how powerful his father was in those situations and how he was able to make it through on the very extravagance of his heavenly father. So he thought to himself how could this time in this cave be any different, my father's light can never be covered up, even if I am under hundreds of feet of cold damp, dark cobble stone, for God that is nothing but a thin piece of paper to shine his light through. My God is almighty and I know he has a plan for me even if it is for me to sit in this cave for