Examples Of Discrimination In The Chrysalids

Every society is different. They each have their own customs, habits and way of life. In The Chrysalids there are many unique societies, each and everyone different, particularly the Waknuk and Sealand societies. The Waknuk society is filled with problems humanity has strived to leave in the past, discrimination. Meanwhile, the society in Sealand has overcome these problems. They treat every person and thing equally, putting aside things the Waknuk society would have deemed "deviations" or "offences". As a result of putting aside these problems, the Sealand people have managed to create a technologically advanced city by working together. The society in Sealand is what humanity can achieve if we overcome our primitive thinking and beliefs.

They believe that everything should abide to the "True Image of God" (Wyndham 17-20). An extremely biased opinion, where everything should be one way and anything different is considered a deviation and must be banished or destroyed. This results in many people being exiled to the Fringes and animals and livestock destroyed, leading to a fear of being or having deviants/offences. This is also the main problem that David and his friends have, as they are considered deviants because of their ability. Sealand however completely has this flipped. "'The kind of people that God intended, perhaps?' . . . 'I don't know about that. Who Does(156)?'" The Sealand people do not have a "True Image". Instead the Sealand people value telepathy or think-pictures(145), an ability or gift that David's group has, unlike Waknuk. The Sealand women considers Waknuk primitive and the Fringes as savages (156). The Sealand people's believed that their gift is essential in life. They believed that there is a barrier between people who could and could not think together. They consider telepath a part of natural evolution, contrary to Waknuk belief. Being able to think together creates many benefits. Large scale projects become much easier, wars are less likely as everyone is constantly sharing their thoughts and technological advancements are rapidly improving as people can share their knowledge and thoughts with ease. The

Women show how a civilization acts and treats every individual person. In the Waknuk society, the women are mistreated. They are considered minorities and are under the power of the men. They are blamed for things that they are not their fault. This occurs when Aunt Harriet begs David's mother to save her child, and states that her husband will turn her out and find a new wife if she cannot provide him with proper —non-mutant—children.

"'This is the third time. They'll take my baby away again like they took the others. I can't stand that - not again. Henry will turn me out, I think. He'll find another wife, who can give him proper children. There'll be nothing — nothing in the world for me — nothing. I came here hoping against hope for sympathy and help. Emily is the only person who can help me. I — I can see now how foolish I was to hope at all . . . "