The Theme of Religion in the Novel The Chrysalids (Essay Example)

The Chrysalids by John Wyndham is a novel that takes place after a nuclear apocalypse. The setting of the book is Waknuk, a highly religious, though primitive town. Some of the town members have a secret they are hard-pressed to hide, for it will land them in deep trouble. Though it is important, the people of Waknuk use religion to discriminate against and shame others, then use it as a shield to defend their best actions.

Religion is used to discriminate against and shame others. Firstly, this is shown by the terms Deviations, Blasphemies and Offences that are used in the book. “Usually there was only some small thing wrong, but however much or little was wrong it was an Offence, and if it happened among people it was a Blasphemy… though commonly both kinds were called Deviations” (Wyndham 19). The people of Waknuk have interpreted the Bible and Repentances by Nicholson -- a book that was written after the nuclear apocalypse -- and came to the conclusion that because they are of the “True Image”, anything else is inferior. There is also Joseph Strorm’s reaction to his son David joking about having three arms. “... you deliberately wished yourself a Mutant… You, my son, committing blasphemy, and before his parents!” (Wyndham 26) Joseph was unfairly furious with David. He said David was insinuating that there was something wrong with the body that God made him, without letting David explain himself. The last example is David’s parents trying to shame Aunt Harriet after she asks for a large favour. “Worse still, you don’t show an atom of shame or remorse… Your sin has weakened our defences,... Shame on you, woman!” (72) David’s parents are insulting Harriet, almost forcing her to be ashamed of her actions. To recap, the terms Deviations, Blasphemies and Offences, Joseph’s reaction to David joking about having three arms and David’s parents shaming Harriet support the claim that religion is used to discriminate against and shame others.

Religion is used as a shield to defend bad actions and injustices. “And any creature that shall seem to be human, but is not formed thus it’s not human. It is neither man nor woman. It is a blasphemy against the True Image of God, and hateful in the sight of God” (13). The people of Waknuk have created the “Definition of Man”, in which anything that doesn’t fit it is “hateful in the sight of God” (13). This is nothing like what the Bible teaches. Deviations are “hateful in the sight of God” (27), so therefore, the people of Waknuk feel free to do whatever they want to them. Next, Old Jacob says Purity standards should be tightened so God doesn’t send another Tribulation “Slackness, laxness, nobody caring beyond a bit of lip-service.. Bringing Tribulation down on us again, they are…”(87). Old Jacob wants the people of Waknuk to go back to slaughtering and burning Deviations so there isn’t another Tribulation. He thinks God is the reason behind the bad crop seasons and is using it as a reason to validate not just killing Offences,  but Blasphemies as well, instead of banishing them to the Fringes. Lastly, the inspector and Joseph press David for information on his six-toed friend Sophie. Someone in Waknuk discovered Sophie’s secret about having six toes and reported her to the town’s inspector. When David returns home, he is interrogated by his father and the inspector to find out where Sophie is. The inspector says, “It is everybody’s duty to report any kind of Offence to me…” (51). They get him to betray his friend in the name of duty, a duty which has been imposed on him because of their belief that Sophie is lesser than them. This stems from their aforementioned Definition of Man which comes from a supremacist point of view on their faith.

Religion to the people of Waknuk can be used to discriminate against others and shame and defend themselves afterwards, although it is an important part of their lives. The people of Waknuk discriminate against others and shame those who don’t match their religious standard. They use their faith as a defense mechanism when questioned on wrongdoings. The people of Waknuk use God’s name in vain and twist His message whenever to fit their narrative. Though the events that occur in The Chrysalids seem extreme, they are not too far from today’s society, in the way people are judgemental of those who are different from them.