Power and Its Effects Within The Chrysalids and Rebel Rising Essay Example

As someone once said, “With power comes great responsibility.” The responsibility which comes with having power can often be forgotten, or cast aside, by its users which is a common theme in which we see in most dystopian novels. When responsibility is absent, it causes an abuse in power which is very noticeable throughout John Wyndham’s The Chrysalids and Beth Revis’ Rebel Rising. In both of these dystopian fictions, there are two very power abusive and totalitarian societies present, Wyndham’s being called Waknuk and Revis’ The Galactic Empire. Through this power abusive attitude, both societies have a common theme; ruining people’s lives. Within both novels the aspects of each society are nearly identical, each protagonist is similarly labeled by their society and are both pressured through strikingly similar journeys, as they suffer and take a stand against the one thing that sets them apart, their society. 

In both societies, anyone who dares to oppose the governing body becomes an outcast and ultimately suffers the consequences, whether that be to become a hunted animal or being locked up in jail, the consequences are still evident. In the Galactic Empire, the moment they realize that a citizen is not following along with what is ‘normal’, they pinpoint the citizen’s location and haul them in, the consequences often quite severe. “Don’t be stupid, girl. You’re a petty criminal at best. [...] I know exactly where I’ll be able to find you. In one of the Empire’s glorious labor camps.” (Revis, 390) This is a perfect example of such punishment that a large majority of citizens suffer when they come to the realization of how cruel the society they are living in actually is. These people end up in high-security labor camps, doing the work that “The Empire could have had droids do, [...] which just added to the insult of making the prisoners complete the tasks.” (Revis, 186) The citizens, now turned criminals, are forced into labor and are worked until they are nothing more than dry bones. In Waknuk, there are similar punishments, however they only apply to those who are different, those not made in the “True Image” (Wyndham) “...And once they get afraid they become cruel and want to hurt people who are different [...] and they’d hurt us very much if they could catch us…” (Wyndham, 58) Here, we see David, Rosalind and Petra all on the run after they came to realize how corrupt their society truly is. Due to the fact that these three have the power of telepathy, they are labeled as dangerous and are to be found and ultimately killed. In both cases, the characters who take a stand for the injustice they see, end up suffering the consequences of speaking up, all of these consequences being the offspring of the power abusive societies evident within both texts.

In both novels, each protagonist is not of society’s norm, which sets them apart from the average person, causing the protagonist to become labeled as a criminal or an outlaw. Like previously mentioned, within the Empire if you are not with them, you are against them. Our protagonist in Rebel Rising, Jyn Erso, is one of the many people who are not fooled by the Empire’s mind control. Since she does not agree with her society’s ways, she is set apart, being labeled as a criminal. “Possession of unsanctioned weapons, forgery of Imperial documents, aggravated assault, escape from custody, resisting arrest…” (Revis, 406) In this quote, a Rebellion General is listing off Jyn’s crimes against the Empire. All of the offenses listed prove that because she does not agree with Imperial ideology, they went after her, causing all of these crimes to arise. In The Chrysalids, David is also labeled as a criminal, due to the fact that he is different and does not agree with Waknuk’s viewpoint on how things should be. “So a proclamation has been posted describing the three of you and officially classifying you as deviants. [...] Anyone who assists you in any way is committing a criminal act, [...]  In effect, it makes you outlaws.” (Wyndham, 53) Though David Strorm, the protagonist in The Chrysalids, has not committed any crimes like Jyn, he is still labeled as a criminal by Waknuk’s governing body just because he has a unique ability unlike the average person. All in all, both Jyn and David share the same label of being a criminal all due to the fact that they have a different view on their unjust and power abusive societies. 

Both protagonists, in both dystopias, also share one last thing; their journeys. It is quite common that we see somewhat similar character journeys, between various stories, but both Jyn’s and David’s journeys are nearly identical. In Jyn’s case she starts off realizing how corrupt the Empire actually is. “It struck Jyn as she followed the group into the huge factory that Lieutenant Colonel Senjax hadn’t said the Empire was already wonderful, just that it had the potential to be.” (Revis, 167) Here, Jyn finally comes to the sudden realization that even the Imperial officials believe the Empire is cruel and inhumane. This finally confirms her growing distaste towards her society. Later on, after realization settles in, Jyn leaves behind everything she has ever known in search of a better life away from the Empire. “You need to make a choice, [...] Choose a peaceful life with my unit or go back to a life where you need a blaster.” (Revis, 206) Jyn ends up meeting someone who is literally the complete opposite of herself, a cargo pilot named Akshaya Ponta. This pilot in particular does not believe in violence or the Empire. She has lived on a peaceful and neutral planet all her life and does not know the brutal, grim reality of war like Jyn does. However, wanting to put her old life behind her, Jyn hands over her blaster to Akshaya, a symbolic event showing Jyn’s character progression. By the end of Rebel Rising, our strong willed protagonist finally finds refuge. Even after the ups and downs of her journey, the refuge she so desperately sought after is finally found, in the form of the opposition to the Empire, the Rebellion. “But seeing these people, they way they still believed they had a chance - a chance that hinged on her - rekindled that spark inside her heart that she thought had died long before.” (Revis, 410) Jyn finally feels at home once more, after a lifetime of running, dodging blaster fire, and hiding from the Empire’s clutches, she has found a place where she fits in, can be no longer called a criminal and she can actually help take down the very evil power that put her through all this in the first place. In David’s case - the protagonist in The Chrysalids -  his journey also begins with the realization of his society’s abuse of power and unjust ways. “...all the same I could not believe that the Devil sent Sophie. I found it hard to see how the very small toe on each foot could make much difference either.” (Wyndham, 21-22) This is a large turning point in the story, as with Jyn’s realization, that triggers the rest of the story’s events. David finally realizes that what he had been taught all his life is not fair, and wrong in many ways. He now comes to the shocking conclusion that he may not be safe either, due to his telepathic ability. Time passes, and as time goes on, David’s realization becomes stronger and stronger, until he finally must leave behind everything he’s ever known in order to survive. “'Hurry up, both of you, while there's time. It was a deliberate surprise. If they do know much about us, they'll have tried to time it to send a party for you, too...” (Wyndham, 49) Here, Michael, another boy with telepathy residing within Waknuk, urgently informs David of the sudden danger and that he must leave home at once. Already having prepared for this, David quickly gathers his things, along with his younger sister, Petra, and heads out. By doing this, they leave behind everything. Their family, their home, their belongings… At last, through the ups and downs, through the trials that the journey placed in their path, they finally find refuge in New Zealand. “'Can't you guess, David? It's people. Lots and lots of our kind of people.” (Wyndham, 82) In this quote, Rosalind - who also has telepathy - urges David to realize that their new found refuge is filled with people who also have the same ability as he and the rest of his friends. At long last, David does not have to run anymore. He does not have to worry about his Father, the Inspector or Waknuk’s government finding out about his ability… He is finally free to be who he truly is. Though both protagonists existed in very different worlds, their journeys were still similar, starting with the realization of their society's abuse of power, leaving everything behind and then finally finding refuge among people just like themselves. Due to both protagonist’s unjust societies, they are both sent on journeys that make it seem as if their lives become more of a mess than they already were, but somehow things all work out in the end.

Ultimately, power corrupts even the purest societies, having effects on those who dare oppose the powerful, being labeled as criminals and when a harsh power is present, it often takes characters on similar journeys which come from the suffering they endure because they took a stand against the one thing that sets them apart, their society and its power abusive morals. 

Works Cited 

Revis, Beth. Rebel Rising. Disney/LucasFilm Press, 2018. 

Wyndham, John. The Chrysalids. Penguin Pocket Books, 1955. PDF file.