There is an excessive amount of
prejudice, intolerance and ignorance all around society in the today’s world,
nevertheless there are some individuals who are aware of this and are trying to
change the amount of it around them in their own society. As one can see, in
the novel the author deals with these subjects very well and it makes it
enjoyable for the reader. In John Wyndham’s novel The Chrysalids the author
deals with themes of prejudice, intolerance and ignorance; in many ways, the
nature of Waknuk society parallels our own present society
In the
Chrysalids the people of Waknuk are prejudice against anyone who does not
live up to their beliefs of a “true
image.” They discriminate against anyone who looks or acts differently then
they do. For example there is signs all over David’s house saying things like
“WATCH FOR THOU MUTANT,” and on the other hand Sophie has only one extra toe on
each foot and she had to be sent away to the Fringes for being different. Also,
Aunt Harriott’s baby has the smallest little mark on her but she is still
labeled as a deviation. Similarly, there
is a lot of prejudice in present day society. People still discriminate against
other races and religions. It is unbelievable that this is still happening in
society. Just because someone has a different skin tone than oneself, or speaks
a different language or has different religious beliefs does not give one the
right to put that other person down or treat them with any less respect.
Everyone is equal.
The
people of Waknuk do not let people be who they are, which shows intolerance.
They believe everyone has to be the same and look very similar.
If people are slightly different in any way they get sent
away to this place called the “Fringes,” also known as the Badlands.
Intolerance does not really occur to such an
extreme in present day society. In the 1940’s, this intolerance was present in
Germany. If one were Jewish, or a Gypsy or not of “pure German decent,” one
would be arrested and sent to concentration camps to ones death by starvation,
forced labor, torture or poisoning. Jews were forced to wear stars of David or
“J’s” to indicate their religious backgrounds.
In The
Chrysalids, Waknuks society does not know anything about any of the other
“groups,” who live in other parts of their lands, which shows ignorance.
Waknuk’s society think that those groups are different from them and so they
frown upon those differences. Ironically, the other groups speak of the people
of Waknuk in exactly the same way. Those other “groups” from different places
think that Waknuk’s society is strange and weird.
Waknuk’s society does not
even make an attempt to gather more knowledge about those other groups. One
could argue that we have a lot of ignorance in present day society. Some people
critically judge homeless people by their dress and behavior, without talking
to them to find out why they live on the street. People judge them by their
appearance and they just see them as lazy and worthless.
As in The Chrysalids, prejudice,
ignorance and intolerance are present in our own society. It is impossible to
get away from it. One can avoid being prejudice, intolerant and ignorant but it
is still going to occur all around oneself. The question himself must ask is
can they personally make a difference to the amount of prejudice, intolerance
and ignorance there is today by ones behavior. People should just accept other
people for who they are and not something
someone wants them to be.
THE CHRYSALIDS
By Emma Nemtin
January 8th 2002
No comments:
Post a Comment