6 Toes or Telepathy? - Chrysalids Essay

6 toes or telepathy? The Chrysalids by John Wyndham is a great story about a boy named David Strorm who lives in a community against any form of deviation. David meets a girl who happens to be a mutant and it changes David's view on the subject. He later discovers that he has a mutation called telepathy. He has the ability to send thought-shapes to others like him. David's mutation makes him more intelligent, understanding and responsible. He becomes more intelligent when he learns how to send and receive thought-shapes to the others. His mutation also makes him more understand what other mutants are going through. Lastly he takes responsibility in raising Petra. These are three ways David's mutation made him a better person.

David's deviation makes him more intelligent in many different ways. Through-out the novel David teaches himself how to send thought-shapes. He figures out what to do and starts communicating with the others. Over time David realizes his ability to send thought-shapes is a blasphemy and that he must keep it a secret or he will be sent away to the Fringes. He understands the consequences for his deviation and does everything in his power from getting himself or the group discovered. After Uncle Axel explained to David how his telepathy must be kept a secret David narrates,

Furthermore in trying to convey Uncle Axel's seriousness to them I must have stirred up an uneasiness that was in all their minds, for there was no dissent. They made the promise willingly; eagerly, in fact, as though it was a burden they were relieved to share (32).

This shows he cared about the other members of the group and himself being safe. David comes to accept himself along with his mutation. After Aunt Harriet's death David p...

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... Rosalind narrates, “ Just leave it to David and me”(111). This shows that David and Rosalind are holding responsibility for Petra. David teachers her more about her deviation and helps her send thought-shapes. After Petra's pony was killed, David explains, “I did my best to explain to her, but even at her present age of almost eight the necessity of putting it into words that were simple enough presented a difficulty”(112). This shows David is trying to teach Petra about telepathy and proves his responsibility.

David's mutation helped him obtain many quality skills he can use later on in life, he became more intelligent, responsible and understanding. Without his mutation he never would have gained the independence he did. Whether it was raising Petra or keeping a secret, David always did his best.

Works Cited

Wyndham, John. The Chrysalids. London: Penguin 1958