John Wyndham's The Chrysalids

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A relationship is a tie or connection that one makes throughout one’s life. These ties are usually broken if they are established incorrectly, that is to say, in a bad relationship. When a father creates a tie with his son, the tie has to be established properly, or else the child will miss a vital part of his life. During the progression of The Chrysalids, the author, John Windham illustrates two unique relationships. This story is set in the future on a post-apocalyptic land called Labrador that is cut off from the rest of the world by radiation. The primitive-like communities in this religious land believe that people who have some form of a mutation are the children of the devil, and they are banned to the Fringes, a land filled with radiation that is set apart from the communities. The main character, David, is the son of the strictest, most law-abiding citizen of Waknuk, Joseph Strorm. David is supported by his helpful, friendly Uncle Axel during the story. The relationship between Uncle Axel and David is much stronger and better than the relationship between David and his father.

One way that Wyndham shows that David and his father’s relationship is worse than David and Uncle Axel’s relationship is the way in which Joseph treats David. He is shown to be a mean, uncaring father to David on many occasions. Joseph rarely communicates with David, and when he does, he uses a certain tone of voice that indicates his anger. For example, after David injures his hand and his mother has to bandage it up, he says “I could have managed it all right myself if I’d had another handˮ (Wyndham 26). Joseph turns very angry since he thinks that David wishes to be a mutant: “I caught my father’s expression just as it was turning from amazeme...

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... he says “Then I put a new string on my bow” (Wyndham 118). Alan is found with an arrow through his neck, so it is understood that Axel murdered him to protect the rest of the shape-thinkers. An uncle who goes as far as killing somebody who poses a threat to his nephew is much more than just a regular uncle or even a father.

Joseph is an awful, unjust father to David due to his physical and verbal abuse towards David. David feels uncomfortable when in his father’s presence, whereas he welcomes Uncle Axel’s company. Contrary to Joseph, Axel shows his care for David through actions and words. David and his uncle are a lot closer to each other compared to David and his father, whose admonishments are his only words spoken to David. A son should love his father, rather than fearing him. Every child should have the right to have a healthy relationship with their parents.

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