Shayne Rebello Ms.

Fiacco ENG 2D1 Monday March 26, 2012 The Chrysalids Quotes Question: Is the knowledge gained by the protagonist worth the things he had to give up in order to achieve them? Quotes illustrating the communitys hatred toward deviations: -And any creature that shall seem to be human, but is not formed thus is not human. it is neither man nor woman. It is blasphemy against the true Image of God, and hateful in the sight of God."

Quotes illustrating what David had to give up: "This isn't a cosy world for anyone - especially not for anyone that's different," he said. "In my experience," he told me, "if you run away from a thing just because you don't like it, you don't like what you find either. Now, running to a thing, that's a different matter, but what would you want to run to?'' We had a gift, a sense which, Michael complained bitterly, should have been a blessing, but was lilttle better than a curse. The stupidest norm was happier; he could feel that he belonged. "Going away?" I repreated blankly... Nothing, I knew, was going to be quite the same ever again. the desolation of the prospect engulfied me. I had to struggle hard to keep back tears."

Quotes Illustrating the knowledge gained by David

"No... souls are just counters for churches to collect, all the same value, like nails. No, what makes man man is mind; it's not a thing, it's a quality, and minds aren't all the same value; they're better or worse, and the better they are, the more they mean." "Now, as I see it, some way or another you and Rosalind and the others have got a new quality of mind. To pray God to take it away is wrong; it's like asking Him to strike you

blind, or make you deaf... You have to come to terms with it. You'll have to face it and decide that, since that's the way things are with you, what is the best use you can make of it and still keep yourselves safe?" Other people seem so dim, so half-perceived, compared with those whom one knows their thought-shapes; and I don't suppose 'normals', who can never share their thoughts, can understand how we are so much more a part of one another... And we don't have to flounder among the shortcoming of words; it is difficult for us to falsify or pretend a thought even if we want to; on the other hand, it is almost impossible for us to misunderstand one another.
"It must be a very wonderful thing to have," she said, half wistfully. "Like more eyes, inside you."

"We have a new world to conquer: they have only a lost cause to lose." "Knowing makes all the difference. Knowing that we're not just pointless freaks - a few bewildered deviations hoping to save their own skins. It's the difference between just trying to keep alive, and having something to live for." The armour was gone. She let me look beneath it. It was like a flower opening...

Summary

The novel Chysalids, written by John Wyndham is a story based in the future following a devastating nuclear disaster. The protagonist, David, lives in a dystopian, Christian fundamentalist society know as Wacknuk. Residing somewhere in Newfoundland, this society believes that they are the pure image of God, and that everyone and everything that deviates even slightly from the norm should be destroyed. Those who are unfortunate enough to be born differently are labeled as Deviations and are either murdered or forced to flee into what is called Wild Country. Ever since he was a young boy, David was taught what is right and what is wrong by his father, a zealous and pious man. Despite Davids religious upbringing, he finds himself in an awkward situation when he realizes he is actually different. David discovers that he along with 9 other individuals from neighboring vilages have telepathic powers. David understands that he must keep his ability a secret from everyone because if his community were to know he would be killed. He manages to hide his power from everyone his community until his mother gives birth to a young girl named Petra. At first she appears to be normal, but as David soon figures out, she too has telepathic powers. She however, demonstrates a far greater telepathic strength than anyone of the other 9 others. As she grows older, Petra learns to talk and informs David that she receives telepathic messages from unknown people from a place known as Sealand. The Sealanders inform David and the other 9 using Petra as a medium, that they can come to Newfoundland and rescue them. The idea never really appeals to David and the group until people around the community start to get suspicious about their ability. Eventually, the secret is let out and he is exiled from Waknuk along with his friend Rosalind and Petra. The citizens hunt and chase them into the Wild Country where David, Rosalind and Petra find refuge in a small camp of Deviations. The group of three manage to hide out long enough in the village until the Sealanders arrive in their helicopters. The Sealand people agree to take David Rosalind and Petra, and take them home.