The Chrysalids: The Genetic YA Formula

Everyday, an individual changes in their perspective and personality in one way or another, and it impacts their character. John Wyndham, the author of The Chrysalids, demonstrates that every individual experiences something that changes them in such a way that it prevents them from being able to go back to the person they once were. A prominent character that displays such a change would be David, who is the protagonist of the novel and goes through significant adversities that carve out his character. David changes in the story because of his mutation and his own thoughts, which develop because of the challenges they bring upon him. Not only do these factors bring change upon him but his identity also transfigures throughout the

Another big point in Prose’s essay is the assignments associated with high school literature. She argues that teachers make students write around the books and not about the books they read. “No wonder students are rarely asked to consider what was actually written by these hopeless racists and sociopaths. Instead, they’re told to write around the book, or, better yet, write their own books,” (430). The assignments that teachers give these days are nto about the book or the story itself. They usually ask the student to rewrite the ending, or ask what the student would do if they were in the same situation as the character. Prose argues that high school students are seen as having the same experience as some of the characters they read about, such as Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby. “And is it any wonder that

Adversities are hard to avoid in one’s life; everyone has to face them at one point in their life. The effect it has on a person’s life can change their perspective towards the world. When problems arise individuals traditionally become stunned to such difficult situations that they face. The adversity becomes a brick wall that is challenging to break down. An individual's true character in addition to their nature is revealed when they face a conflict in their life or a challenge. In the novel, The Chrysalids by John Wyndham has his protagonist David go through some conflicts, which he overcomes throughout the story. David struggles to find a life where people would appreciate his uniqueness, not sameness which has an impact on who he thinks

Change, the essential of life, it can be tranquility or turbulence, change has no set goal, it occurs all around us without us knowing. In the novel, The Chrysalids, by John Wyndham, change is the major problem in the society even though it is hidden in different aspects of life. To the society, change is their enemy, but it is themselves who are their enemies without knowing it. A society that fails to realize the inevitability of change will indubitably agonize.

In The Chrysalids, by John Wyndham, there are three main themes expressed through three characters. The first theme is expressed through David.

John Wyndham's novel The Chrysalids shows the consequences of going against the beliefs of society through David who is isolated from society due to his deviant ability. To begin with, being confronted by town officials, David struggles to fit in with the people of Waknuk as he faced constant deprivation due to his telepathic abilities. As John writes, "To be any kind of deviant is to be hurt- always"(Wyndham 167). As stated in the above quote, being a deviant and having telepathic abilities has many negative effects such as being isolated from your family and sent to the fringes. The society shown in The Chrysalids have very strong policies on deviations or something that does not follow the norm. In Waknuk, society sees David's deviant

David and Rosalind are people who have a desire to leave the enclosed world of Waknuk. This is evident throughout the novel. They are both trapped inside chrysalids like everyone else in Waknuk because of traditional people like Joseph Strorm. Once both of them are rescued by the Sealand woman in the last chapter they are able to escape from their chrysalids that were imposed on them by the Waknuk society. They are able to become free and beautiful

Literature is always changing and evolving to match the human condition. However, there are a few basic structures which remain constant; writers end up using these universal themes to connect to readers, because they connect to them themselves. This is not always intentional. If the reader has no relation to a topic, the book will not be interesting to them. In fact, almost everything that is read today has elements of a book written before it.

Love and faith are both components to survival. In the Chrysalids David loves Rosalind and his sister Petra and protects them. John Wyndham, the author of the book places this society in a time after war were mutations are becoming more common so Petra, Rosalind, and David need to run away to survive or else they will get caught. Also these people in this society are very faithful (religious) and follow the bible, and if something occurs that the bible does not say then they get sent to the fringes. The Chrysalids, by John Wyndham teaches valuable lessons about love, survival, and faith.

The title of this story itself the central theme, by choosing a title including the word "Chrysalids," Wyndham points towards the way in which society is changing and developing, moving from its caterpillar state into a butterfly. Of course, the fact that the title includes the words "chrysalids" indicates that this transformation and change is not completely over yet, and thus we are frighten of this world, David and Rosalind and their companions, who recognise that they are different from the rest of the humans they live with, but must hide those differences. The focus on transformation and evolution is likewise signalled by the woman from Sealand, who states clearly that "life is change,” thus the central theme of the novel points towards

What makes a seemingly normal book a classic? Literary lenses. One of those classic books, Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds, shows the reader justice, difficult choices, and allows the reader to discover how it uses literary lenses to become a classic. By studying the novel through various literary lenses, the reader can see different perspectives which is important because it brings more depth and dimension, making Shiloh a children’s classic.

(Hord Zinn). David is a telepathic boy living in a post apocalyptic nuclear wasteland, called the “Tribulation” in the book The Chrysalids. David manages to change the world and the vision of mutation and deviants. David would have never able to do that without the people around that changed him. This Essay will explore how Sophie, Uncle Axel and Gordon though minor characters have a major impact on David's development.

The intended audience for this novel is young teenagers to adults, as they would be able to relate and compare themselves to the main character, Hayaat.

For example, The Perks of Being a Wallflower talks about depression, love, and abuse. In my experience, most people don’t particularly like talking about such heavy topics and avoid it if they can, focusing on the brighter, happier parts of life. YA literature sheds light on these topics by showcasing the somewhat sadder and darker human experience. In The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Charlie is forced to face his past abuse while trying to make friends in high school, Sam is insecure and trying to go to college, Patrick deals with having a secret relationship and having his heart broken. As a reader one is able to learn and grow with these characters and become more aware of other people and their struggles. YA novels offer insight to the heavier topics and help reader’s confront their own demons or simply become more

Throughout history there has been many great authors that have created even greater works, and some people refer to these as classics. However, what truly makes an authors’ work a classic? “The idea of a classic implies something that has continuance and consistence, and which produces unity and tradition, and transmits itself, and endures.” “A true classic, is an author who has expressed his thought, and who has spoken to all in his own peculiar style” (Hutchins). Theodore Dreiser is the epitome of this very definition. Dreiser drew upon his upbringing, life experiences, and the situations of his family members and transformed these collective experiences into his very first novel, “Sister Carrie”. This specific piece of work is unlike any novel before it because it displays the idea of the “American Dream” in a completely different way in which no other author could do and as such it still stands as a very influential novel today.