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Daniel Rivas

Professor Rego

English 114B

15 May 2017

Evolving Society

Lauren Oliver once said, Dystopian novels help people process their fears about what

the future might look like; further, they usually show that there is always hope, even in the

bleakest future. Dystopian novels explore social and political issues present in a society, usually

in a post-apocalyptic setting. I have been reading the dystopian novel The Chrysalids by John

Wyndham. The Chrysalids is a science fiction novel first published in 1955 by Michael Joseph.

The book is set in post-apocalypse setting, in a town called Waknuk. The people of Waknuk refer

to old civilization (present-day humans) as the "Old People", which they believe God destroyed

them through a tribulation as punishment for their sins. The society in Waknuk has created a

Christian based society that focuses on keeping purity, bringing up issues such as racism and

intolerance for what is unknown. The story follows a character named David, who struggles to

understand what is considered normal in his society, breaking the barriers that blind the people in

his town. Studying the dystopian novel is beneficial to ones education because it helps students

understand social, political and moral issues present in a society, such issues explored in the

dystopian novel The Chrysalids.

Social issues are a major problem in the world presented in the novel. An article written

by Melissa Ames, an Associate Professor of English and Director of English Education at

Eastern Illinois University, discusses the impact of dystopian novels on young adults in todays
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modern society. The current popularity of dystopian novels has engaged students in social and

political issues. She states, Previous scholars have noted that contemporary dystopian fiction,

and the utopian fiction it derives from, often includes a critique of a 'postmodern,' advanced

technological society gone awry and calls for social change (Ames 2013). Dystopian novels

present social issues such as racism and inequality to readers. It helps start a discussion about our

own reality; which issues presented in the novels are present in our society and what action is

taking place. Novels such as The Chrysalids feature totalitarian society issues such as human

perfection has led to the creation of a dystopia. Moving to a particular issue found in the book,

racism and the fear of the unknown play a major theme in the story. Waknuk has a set of laws in

place that discriminates against anyone that does not look normal. They believe that everyone is

made from Gods image and anyone who appears different from that is outcasted from society.

These people are known as Deviations, people with disabilities or mutations. It states in the text,

And any creature that shall seem to be human, but is not formed thus is 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 (Wyndham 13). This is the definition of man that people in this society believe in. Anyone

who does not fit this definition is not considered human. These teachings are reminiscent to those

of Adolf Hitler and his idea of purity. This challenges readers to think critically about the

connections between the story and real life events. Readers are forced to question themselves

with questions such as: Are this issues present in my society and what am I doing about it?

Therefore, it teaches meaningful lessons of social injustices that exist in fiction and reality.

Political messages are part of the central teachings found in dystopian novels. An article

written by Adam Stock, a lecturer at York St. John University, provides further commentary into
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how dystopian novels use the future setting to think back critically about the present. He states in

the article, Such fictions have been used to explore issues across science, politics, economics,

and philosophy, which range from the viability of liberal humanism in an age characterized by

industrial warfare and social Darwinism to mass production and moral autonomy under the ex-

panding reach of the state into the life of the individual (Stock 2013). Dystopian novels present

a future in which present political and social issues have developed into future issues leading to a

dystopian society. The political messages found in these novels can be described as a wake-up

call or a form of protest against present society. These messages are meant to show what could

happen in the not so distant future if society keeps moving towards a certain direction. Politics in

dystopian novels help readers think critically about their own political views and perhaps devel-

op or form new political views. John Wyndham has a political message he is trying to send

throughout The Chrysalids. A significant part of that is found in the last chapter, stating, Some-

time there will come a day when we ourselves shall have to give place to a new thing. Very cer-

tainly we shall struggle against the inevitable just as these remnants of the Old People do. We

shall try with all our strength to grind it back into the earth from which it is emerging, for treach-

ery to ones own species must always seem a crime. We shall force it to prove itself, and when it

does, we shall go; as, by the same process, these are going (Wyndham 195). At the end of the

story, the new species of humans succeeds and takes over the old. He is trying to convey the idea

that everything can and must be replaced. His political view is that the old will be replaced by

the new, everything evolves when we accept change. Not only does this explain evolution well to

the reader, it also tries to convince them that we need to accept change in order to evolve and

grow. Everything must come and go, it is the only way humans can survive.
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The theme of morality is essential to the story in The Chrysalids. In the story, Davids

Aunt Harriet comes to Davids house to ask her sister for help. Her child was born with a

mutation and wants to borrow Davids baby sister so that she can obtain a certificate of

normalcy. Her sister and Davids father refuse to help her and Davids father tells her, You have

sinned, woman, search your heart, and you will know that you have sinned. Your sin has

weakened our defenses, and the enemy has struck through you. You wear the cross on your dress

to protect you, but you have not worn it always in your heart. You have not kept constant

vigilance for impurity. So there has been a Deviation; and deviation, any deviation from the true

image is blasphemyno less. You have produced a defilement! (Wyndham 72). Wyndham

creates a scene that may seem immoral to the reader but correct to the characters. Davids father

does a horrible thing by kicking out his wifes sister, however, he thinks he is doing the right

thing. This shows how religious and societal beliefs can influence certain actions. This helps

readers think about what they personally think is right and wrong. How can certain actions be

justified through personal religious and political beliefs?

The dystopian genre helps students open their minds to social, political and moral issues

present in their society. Dystopian novels cover a wide range of issues and get students reflect on

the issues at hand. It mostly helps teenage students who might not be aware of the societal or

political issues going on in our world. It can help them take action and develop political views.

Studying the dystopian novel was beneficial to my education because it got me thinking of the

future outcomes of todays problems. Although dystopian novels are fiction, many of the events

that occur are possible in our world.

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Work Cited

Wyndham, John. The Chrysalids. N.p.: Michael Joseph, 1955. Print.

Ames, Melissa. "Engaging 'Apolitical' Adolescents: Analyzing the Popularity and Educational

Potential of Dystopian Literature Post-9/11." The High School Journal, 97.1 (2013):

3-20.

Stock, Adam. "The Future-as-Past in Dystopian Fiction." Poetics Today, 37.3 (2016): 415.