The Chrysalids By John Wyndham

Watch Thou for the Mutant Chapter 2 Watch Thou for the Mutant

ONLY THE IMAGE OF GOD IS MAN KEEP PURE THE STOCK OF THE LORD BLESSED IS THE NORM THE DEVIL IS THE FATHER OF DEVIATION These are all axioms hanging on the walls in the Strorm household, as well as:

WATCH THOU FOR THE MUTANT! Axiom: a self-evident truth that requires no proof.

The Books There are only two books in Waknuk society, and they are the basis of the education system there: The Christian Bible – the primary book of the Christian faith 2) Nicholson’s Repentances – an interpretation of the Bible; a guide to morality that details how to turn away from the path of disobedience to the Christian God of the Bible. Repentances defines “man”, describes deviation, and either details or empowers people to make strict rules about dealing with mutants. Because David’s society is a Christian one, some understanding of the Bible and the idea of repentance is necessary to understand the society of the novel.

Christian Personae: God and the Devil God is the sole deity in monotheism. God is most often conceived of as the supernatural creator and overseer of the universe. In the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic faiths (and their offshoots), God (Yahweh) is the law-giver. He dictated the rules by which humans should conduct their lives on Earth to a few humans, who enshrined those ideas in books. To fail to live by the rules of those books is to risk falling out of favour with God, and the only way to return to His favour is through repentance. A depiction of God from the Sistine Chapel. God has been represented by the image of a wizened old man, but is often said to exist outside the natural world and so is unable to be depicted.

Christian Personae: God and the Devil The Devil is believed in certain religions and folklore to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of “evil”. In the major monotheistic faiths, the Devil is the direct enemy of God and humankind. It is through his involvement that people break the rules laid down by God. Some faiths argue that doing so brings God’s wrath on Earth, while others argue that doing so condemns one to Hell, a supernatural space of torment and misery where the Devil resides. A depiction of the Devil. The Devil’s portrayal has changed in each society to be fearsome and frightening for the members of that society; some argue that the Devil is a shapeshifter.

Christian stories: Tribulations 1) The Fall – In the Golden Age, Adam and Eve were at one with God’s grace. They ate the forbidden fruit; humankind is removed from God’s grace, and must forever struggle on Earth to return to His grace. 2) The Flood – People are “wicked”; God kills them all except the handful who remained true to him, i.e. in his grace. This is a sort of re-start for humanity: Another chance to remain in grace. 3) The Plague – When the Black Death struck Europe in the middle ages, many clergy members said it was the wrath of God, punishing mankind for its ways. The punishment was grisly, and the death toll was very high. (Some people have said this about many diseases, at various times.) 4) Revelations – The last book of the Bible predicts a future Tribulation period in which the world ends, and everyone meets their ultimate fate. During that time, people will have a final chance to return to God’s grace before the end. After each tribulation, humankind is given the opportunity to return to the grace of God by following his rules again.

In the novel: The Tribulation In the novel, we learn that an event took place some time in the past called the Tribulation. The people of Waknuk believe this Tribulation, like the others, to be a sign of a fall from grace with God. The Tribulation has apparently removed all knowledge of science, particularly biological science and evolution. Mutations of genes in plants result in “Offences”, and in humans results in “Blasphemies”. Joseph Strorm believes that deviations from the Definition of Man (i.e. “the Norm”) are the Devil’s work, and need to be eradicated in order for their society to be “pure”, and achieve God’s grace once again.

Setting – Timeline In this chapter, the following chronology is revealed: The Golden Age The Fall Time of the Old People The Tribulation The Age of Barbarism David’s Present Time

Golden Age Tales IRON AGE TIME The The Golden Age/ Heaven/Afterlife/ (time of difficulties and tribulations) The Golden Age/ Heaven/Afterlife/ Eden NOW New Jerusalem

Setting Based on what you have learned about the geography, the Old People, and the Tribulation, how would you describe the setting of the novel?

Present Day Map of North America

Setting

Setting The novel is set in the village of Waknuk, in what was formerly Labrador. The Old People are us, and the Tribulation is an event that brought about the end of our society. Thus, the story is set in the future, although the lifestyle of the people suggests a parallel to life in the late-seventeenth to nineteenth centuries (pre-Industrial era).

How to Study a Novel: Chapter Notes Take notes on each chapter as you read. Characters – List each character. Give their full names, and a brief descriptor of the character. Setting – Where does this part of the novel take place? Name the significant locations, and describe notable features. Plot – In a sentence (or two), what happens in each chapter? (Or, what is the most important thing that happens in the chapter?) Questions/Predictions – Write down any questions the chapter raises in your mind, and make predictions about what you think will happen next or how the story will end.