How women’s roles are shaped in The Chrysalids relies heavily on their place in the home, as well as their ability to survive. The religion is focused on keeping the “pure” form of humans, as defined by their text Nicholson’s Repentances. There are also maids and farm workers and their families who live in their complex of houses, and everyone shares meals together in their big room at the end of the day. Harry had a claim on Minerva’s affections, not only because he was the son of two of her all-time favourite students, but because he, like herself, had suffered serious bereavements. Sophie lets the fugitives stay in her cave and hide from the Waknukian forces that are pursuing them.

The Chrysalids by John Wyndham, from Project Gutenberg Canada The Chrysalids by John Wyndham, from Project Gutenberg Canada

These two philosophies are opposed to one another, yet they also have one thing in common: they both have a process of Othering, or qualifying another group of people as different and less than them. Everybody lives in awe of the "Old People", whose might built marvels, yet they believe that God sent "Tribulation" (most likely some form of nuclear war) to punish them for amorality. Equally well put is the idea, described obliquely rather than spelled out, of the apocalypse which brought this situation about, which we are free to assume was a nuclear war.Many found it especially relevant to the present time – 'real and scary', 'had a particular relevance', 'thought-provoking and strangely pertinent to the times', were expressions that people used to describe this. He and Joseph often disagree because Joseph's definition of mutation and deviance is stricter than the one the Inspector has to enforce as dictated by the government. The Chrysalids begins with a conversation between David and his sister Mary Strorm about David’s dream of a city he has never seen before. Aunt Lillian is David’s mother’s half-sister, and Uncle Thomas is David’s mother’s half-brother, both are of unknown whereabouts. She shows him her territory, and he brings her to his side of the bank to show off his community’s steam-engine.

The Chrysalids Summary | GradeSaver

David reflects that years later he could appreciate how grave the situation was for the Wenders, given that David knew their secret and was the son of one of the most powerful men.Also the ending was considered a bit too 'nice', when the heroes are whisked away to a new and better world. He tried a number of careers including farming, law, commercial art and advertising, and started writing short stories, intended for sale, in 1925.

The Chrysalids - Wikipedia

Gordon Strorm (or the "Spider-man"), who is Joseph’s brother and who was banished into the Fringes, meets David briefly. David had believed that the “deviant” humans were scary monsters, such as Hairy Jack and Old Maggie, the childhood allegories he describes when discussing the Fringes in Chapter 2. She explains to the group that it is natural for one species to rise up and overpower another, and that she does not feel guilty for killing these people because change is the nature of life.Sophie and David discuss the Old People, wondering whether they are the magical beings that David imagines, who can fly, or if they are simply human, as Sophie believes.