Reflection: Chapters 3 & 4

In chapters 3-4, David begins to see, even at a young age, that there is something wrong with his society. After he accidentally wishes he had a third arm while trying to bandage his hand his father is outraged at him for wishing to be a mutant. I think this showed David that even his own family is hostile. Without his family to talk to he looks to his Uncle Axel who gives him sensible advice. David also discovers that he has the gift of telepathy. This will become critical to the plot of the story because he is now different from the normal people and this gift could easily become a curse. Now David has to grow up with multiple secrets: his telepathy and Sophie's toes, so he can only trust  few people. David's community is as much devil-fearing as it is God-loving. These people are afraid of the unknown. 'There is nothing to fear but fear itself.' - Franklin D. Roosevelt. The people of Waknuk live by this quote as if it were their only option.

Reflection: Chapters 1 & 2

The Chrysalids seems to be the start of a very interesting story about the remnance of 'pure' human beings. The people are very straight forward in their goal to prevent change and to destroy mutants that get in their way of achieving the restoration of humanity. David, the main character, is growing up in this society and he even realizes something is wrong. I am unsure about how these people handle 'mutants'. I don't think people should be running around with a dozen limbs, but I disagree with killing people because they have an extra toe. I imagine myself in this situation I would be doing the same thing, protecting the purity of humankind. This possible reality is frightening, a governament has been established, but the fear of being invaded by half-human, half-spider creatures aming to swoop away with children. I feel I will enjoy reading the suspense of the book and what David will do against his father.