The Chrysalids

The people of Waknuk have grown to believe that it is in God’s will to extinguish every exception to the Image of Man found in Nicholson’s Repentances. After Tribulation hit Labrador, many survivors deviated from the True Image as the consequence of extreme radiation. The intolerant citizens feel it is part of their religion to rid of any Offences and Blasphemies in their community and have very strict Ethics. The people of Waknuk saw the Ethics as ‘the process of climbing back into grace’ (40). However, Deviants who have the opportunity to escape often attempt to vanish into unknown land, the Fringes, where many of the people do not fit the True Image.

Rosalind, David and Petra are among a group of Deviants that are abnormal in the way they can think telepathically. When their secret is lost, they attempt to escape. Petra’s talent is extraordinary and she has the ability to send a ‘demand pulling like a fish-hook’ (83). Her strength in telepathy allows her to communicate with a woman in a distant place called Sealand. In Sealand, many citizens are alike to Rosalind, David and Petra and can also think telepathically. They are amazed by Petra’s abilities and are willing to rescue them from the Fringes and bring them back to their homeland.

When Rosalind, David and Petra are rescued, the Sealand woman explains that they are unlike Waknuk and embrace evolution. She believes that the upbringing of the citizens in Waknuk is deceiving and that people of Sealand are ‘superior variant[s]’ ( 196). In her opinion, the Sealanders are working towards life of higher quality, much like the opinions of the Waknuk people. Although the communities difference in beliefs, they both believe that they are the greater species and are both doing their best to perfect their societies.

Universally, people tend to be closed-minded towards beliefs that are atypical from their own and as a result, practice hypocrisy and are sanctimonious. People should celebrate the...