Parent Child Relationships In The Chrysalids

Parent-child relationships consist of a unique bond between a loving, protecting, accepting, and providing parent and a child. In the novel The Chrysalids, written by John Wyndham, the topic of parent-child relationships is thoroughly explored between the protagonist David and the other characters in the book. Despite the lack of support from David’s biological parents, he finds many maternal, paternal, and benevolent figures that play a major role in his growth and development. These parental roles are satisfied by three people; Uncle Axel who fulfills the role of the protector, the Wender’s who provide love and a welcoming home, and the Sealand Lady, who endows a secure and accepting community, and in turn, a superior life.

Uncle Axel is

An instance of this is present during the conversation between Uncle Axel and David where they converse “‘Then I put a new string on my bow’. ‘So it was you!’ I exclaimed, ‘It was the only thing to do, Davie. Of course, I knew Anne would reckon it was one of you that had done it. But she couldn’t denounce you without giving herself away and her sister too. There was a risk there, but I had to take it.’ ‘There certainly was a risk-and it nearly didn’t come off’” (118). The fact that Uncle Axel takes a human life to ensure the protection of David shows the great lengths he goes to, just to protect him. It manifests how much Uncle Axel cares for the safety and well-being of David. This sole incident demonstrates the parental instincts that Uncle Axel carries toward David. Furthermore, it bespeaks to the paternal bond between the two and in turn, shows the parent-child-like attachment that

A citation to aid in proving this statement is when The Sealand Lady states “‘You’re still safe?’ We were all three lying on the floor in the front part of the cave now. We had a view of what was going on, and there was little enough chance of anyone noticing our heads, or bothering about us if he did. The way things were going was plain even to Petra. She loosed off an urgent, excited flash. ‘Steady, child, steady! We’re coming,’ admonished the Sealand women” (186). Simply by imperiling her existence and security in order to bring David and the others into their safe and secure community; exhibits how The Sealand Lady is a maternal role model. A real parent would put their child’s safety over their own and in this quote, the Sealand Lady is doing just that. This demonstrates her deep love and care for David because she had the choice to stay back in her community and neglect him yet she risked her life to save him. This longing to protect David and the others further demonstrates the maternal traits she holds towards him. Furthermore, this ability to provide David with a safe, accepting, and welcoming community is very parent-like action. An additional, example to help manifest this statement is “It is not pleasant to kill any creature,’ she agreed, ‘but to pretend that one can live without doing so is self-deception’… ‘It is neither shameful nor shocking that it should be so: it is