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Matthew Chun
Mr. Ahumada
ENG 1D1-01
April 12th, 2011
Relationships Are Important to David in The Chrysalids
Some people say that men are from Mars and women are from Venus. This short but
witty quote can be a simple representation concerning the differences between men and women.
Mars represents the god of war, and is an easy way to explain how men can resort to more
forceful methods when it comes to resolving conflicts. On the other hand, women are known for
their compassion and bonds with all people. This is why they are said to originate from Venus,
since she is the goddess of love. The women in The Chrysalids are no different than women in
today's society, in that they still develop strong, life changing relationships. This innate ability to
bond and build relationships that the women have is the brick and mortar that seals together the
protagonist's (David) life. David's relationship with three women aid him in seeing through the
thick veil that Waknuk has created, and lets him understand life in Waknuk from different
outlooks. In The Chrysalids, David's interpretation of Waknuk's society is altered by his
relationship with Sophie, Aunt Harriet and Petra.
David's binding friendship with Sophie is his first window into a mutant's world, and
makes him reconsider whether Waknuk is the sanctuary of perfection it appears to be. Sophie is
David's first friend, and continues to be even after he discovers the slight mutation on her feet.
He does not care that Sophie's position is a challenge to the rules about mutants he has been
taught, and wants to stay friends no matter what happens (52). Capitalizing upon that, their
relationship in fact grows stronger once he is aware of Sophie's situation, because Sophie would
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no longer has to keep a secret from David. David learns that Sophie's slight mutation doesn't
make her less than human. Before David found out about Sophie's toe, they had plenty of fun.
The pleasant times are not lost after he discovers the sixth toe either, which is demonstrated on
page seven and 43 when they go sliding down hills and fishing. Through all of this, he realizes
that Sophie can still smile, have fun, and feel emotions like a regular girl despite her mild
condition. David's friendship with Sophie is what eventually leads him up to the point where he
realizes he doesn't belong in Waknuk. The society of Waknuk prejudices all mutants to be the
same abnormal, revolting freaks when they can all be unique individuals who could actually
contribute to Waknuk's society. "The human species is made up of seven billion subspecies each
consisting of one specimen," explains Robert Brault, who tries to teach that each and every
human is a unique person. David no can longer accept the cruelty exhibited towards harmless
human beings with such minor defects. "I'm going to run away (56)," is David's announcement to
Uncle Axel, which explains how powerful his friendship was with Sophie. The experiences
David shares with Sophie teaches him to never judge a book by it's cover.
A woman's ability of creating relationships is so strong that even indirect relationships
can be influential enough to change a person's life. Aunt Harriet and David had a relationship
that started the second David's eyes caught her entering his house. When Aunt Harriet nears
towards his house, David makes note of her soft appearance in comparison to his mother, "I used
to feel when I look at her that I was seeing my mother as she might have been - as, I thought, I
would like her to be,(69)". Aunt Harriet believes that she did no wrong by requesting a
temporary baby switch (70), and hits an epiphany when she realizes that Waknuk has been
blinding her with lies. When Joseph Strorm questions her judgement based on shame, she
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responds, "Why should I? I've done nothing to be ashamed of. I am not ashamed - I am only
beaten.(72)" The confidence
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in her answer is a clear demonstration of how she no longer believes in Waknuk's religion. Aunt
Harriet's indirect relationship with David is strong enough to haunt David and have him question
his own identity. David saw how horribly Aunt Harriet ended, and did not want his abilities to
give the same result. "Please, please God, let me be like other people..." David prays at night
hoping God will simply withdraw his telepathic gifts. David envisions Aunt Harriet lying in the
water eyes wide open but dead, and is frightened. However, this dream is a message to readers
that Aunt Harriet can finally see even though she is dead, yet Waknuk citizens are still alive and
still blind. Waknuk's inhumanity to even a tiny, innocent baby strikes a note in David's heart to
how unjust Waknuk can be. Indirect relationships have a reputation of being the least effective,
yet in David's situation, helps him turn his fear of mutants into an understanding.
David's relationship with Petra reveals the cruel ways in which Waknuk brainwashed
everyone, starting with young children. When David spends time with Petra, he realizes how
carefree and happy she is, just as a normal child should be. Petra goes exploring beyond the set
boundaries (104) with her pony, showing how she's just a small child with high amounts of
curiousity. Her first intentional thought shape was a cute fish with a droopy tail, something quite
childish and a sure sign she is still maturing (113). In the same way, Petra's unawareness can be a
problem as her powerful abilities can occasionally be a pain to the other telepaths of Waknuk.
David begins to realize that Petra's young and blank mind is a canvas for Waknuk to fill with lies
about deviations and purity. Because of this empty void in her head, Petra has been convinced
that mutants are just savages and not actual people on the inside. Correspondingly, David's
telepathic friends found it hard comprehend that mutants are normal people (53) when they too
were younger. Her confusion upon mutants is demonstrated when she questions, "Why should
they be afraid of us? We aren't hurting them, (144)". This quote explains how little she knows
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about the way Waknuk handles mutants in the town. On page 133 the readers discover that
mutants are actually just a metaphor for ‘monsters’, used to frighten children into believing what
they are taught. Petra’s life is a clear mirror into David's own past, and how she is being
brainwashed is the same way David would have been if he did not have the guidance of his
telepathic friends and Uncle Axel. However, through his relationship with Petra, he realizes that
Waknuk will corrupt her mind even further, and it is why they must leave.
Sophie, Aunt Harriet and Petra have all contributed to David's life, by changing his view
upon Waknuk. Whether it be through a direct relationship with a mutant, or by watching
someone's life instantly change because of a mutant, David's outlook has matured and evolved
beyond Waknuk's lies. Sophie is David's friend despite her mutant identity, and explains that
mutants are just normal people on the inside. Aunt Harriet is an example of how Waknuk will
express their message of purity by showing even cruelty to those affiliated with mutants. Lastly,
Petra is David's way unto seeing how Waknuk will persist to have their people be lied to, and
will not evolve if that continues. David's relationships are the factors that make him who he is at
the end of the novel, and leaves readers thinking, what if? What if David didn't have
relationships with these women, could he end up as another unjust man similar to Joseph Strorm?
Men are from mars, and women are from Venus. Men, like mars, can be ruthless and uneasy at
times, and can appear to dominate the women and Venus. However, Venus is the ‘bigger planet’,
and in the end, it is true love and relationships with others that will allow people to grow to be a
‘bigger person’.