Before the larvae of most insects become an adult, they remain in a protective state not moving or growing. In the novel "The Chrysalids", John Wyndham, the author, rephrases the definition of Chrysalid to describe the future of humanity. It is after a disaster destroying almost all of humanity forcing humans to start civilization from the beginning. Two surviving books develop a religion purging those who are deformed and putting themselves in a Chrysalid stage, living in a town called Waknuk. The people of Waknuk are like Chrysalids, in a sheltered, stagnant state as they follow their religion avoiding punishment, mutation and evolution.
Waknuk strongly puts belief and faith into their religion and are supportive followers of Nicholson's preventing and misleading humankind from evolution in their sheltered, stagnant state. Religion describes that the image of man is the image of God. The repentances are not against evolution, but are against mutation, example, "Accursed is the mutant in the sight of God and man" (76).
Samuel anoints David, Dura Europos, Syria, Date: 3...
King David in Prayer
First edition hardback coverThe mutants or 'deviants' are sent to the Fringes where deviants live with each other away from Waknuk. Deviants however, do not take part in evolution because evolution changes the image of all humans from God in a very slow process. To stop evolution and keep the image of God, Waknuk remains in their Chrysalid stage following their religion. Waknuk must keep their religious faith and beliefs strong. The people of Waknuk set strict laws and give rules for obedience to protect religion, deny evolution and purge mutation.
David, the main character of the novel is evolving and his father, Joseph Strorm conflicts with David's evolution due to his beliefs in religion. Through the Bible and Nicholson's Repentances, Joseph is strict when teaching his son David about the image of man and...