Human Rights Violations in The Chrysalids Essay Example

Human rights are rights every human on earth receives the second they are born. These protect every human from harm. One of the main themes of the book The Chrysalids is human rights and whether mutants should have them.

Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law. 

In the novel The Chrysalids Sophie, a Mutant with 6 toes on each foot, once said that her family would, “... have to go if anybody ever found out” (page 30 online copy) about her extra toe. When it was found out, they were chased out to the fringes, and then caught and had organs taken out of her body. This is unfair, as even deviants have their own lives, and if Sophie did go into the fringes, 1 extra toe on each foot, would not affect the people of Waknuk. David, a Telepathic Mutant being hunted, without being classified as a Human, “ So a proclamation has been posted describing the three of you and officially classifying you as deviants. That means that you are non-human and therefore not entitled to any of the rights or protection of human society.” (page 136) is a breach of human rights, as the people of Waknuk are entailing that since David is a mutant, he does not get to be protected by human rights laws, and is not considered a Human. Mutants in Waknuk are not considered Humans, and therefore have no rights, meaning they are allowed to be subjected to extreme cruelty or torture without punishment. 

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. 

In the novel The Chrysalids, this is not the case, as Mutants are subjected to different rights, and are not born free to roam either. David says a very intelligent quote about this “Clearly there must be a mistake somewhere, having 1 small extra toe cannot classify someone as a deviant?” (page 14) This quote shows how David disagrees that small deviations can be the difference between a human, and a Mutant, this is why Mutants should be allowed to live as freely as non-deviants as if this were the case, Waknuk could focus solely on advancement, and not fighting Mutants. Aunt Harriet, a Mother who has had 3 mutated babies, is an example of someone, who had their rights violated, 2 of her mutant babies, were taken away from her, and with her having a 3rd mutant baby, her husband would be able to divorce her, and her baby would be taken away, This violates her rights as a human, as she has the right to keep whatever she owns, and is allowed to be seen as a Human before the law. Just think about how those babies could have positively affected Waknuk, yet instead of nurturing and welcoming those babies into Waknuk, Aunt Harriet was either murdered or committed suicide. Suicide is more possible, as she may have committed suicide with her Mutant baby. “When they broke the news to me next day that my Aunt Harriet's body had been found in the river, no one mentioned a baby....” (page 48 online copy) in fear of her and her baby's life not being good after having 3 mutant babies. Not everybody in Waknuk is born equal, as Mutants are thrown into The Fringes and sterilized, just for having a mutation. If every Entity in Waknuk was free, Waknuk would be a lot more advanced, as Waknuk would not need to focus on exiling Mutants.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary exile.

In The Chrysalids David was arbitrarily exiled, as at the time of his exile, there was no evidence of him being Mutant, only suspicion. ``If he is the source, then he must have put his suspicions before the inspector in this district who will have handed it in as a routine report to the inspector in yours.” (page 77 online copy) This quote shows that all that is needed to exile someone is enough people's suspicions. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State. This is not the case, in Waknuk, as Mutants are not allowed to enter, Civilized areas, and are restricted to The Fringes. Yet this is not the case in Waknuk, as Mutants are caught and tortured, or even sometimes captured from their lands. “'So it comes in handy. For the first time they decide that they will take the initiative, and invade us—and pick you up, too, of course.”(page 103 online copy) In the case of Davids.

Mutants' treatment in Waknuk would be a violation of their rights under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including their right to personhood, non-discrimination, and freedom of movement. Waknuk's life would be very different for the better if there were Human Rights.