Chapter 2: The Chrysalids Brief summary In chapter 2, David introduces us to his family.

He tells us how his family is related to the history of Waknuk as well as how his grandfather was related to the society of Waknuk. In addition, we can deduce the individual traits of a few of his family members in this chapter as well. He also mentions some important points about his living conditions, lifestyle and upbringing, and explains Deviations as well as the lands around Waknuk. After his encounter with Sophie (in chapter 1), he makes his way home and enters the house unnoticed. Then, he proceeds to describe the exterior and interior of his house, which was rather odd as it was expanded and built over fifty years. He also gives us a background of his grandfather (Elias) and Elias wife and lets us know more about his father (Joseph) and mother (Emily), along with an overview of his family tree. In addition, David explains to us some rituals carried out when Offences or Blasphemies were found as well as giving us details about the lands beyond Waknuk and people living there. Furthermore, he introduces us to tales, like Old Maggie and Hairy Jack, which parents tell their children in order to scare them and make them behave. This chapter ends with David thinking of nothing but food, and forgetting the meaning behind the sign that says WATCH THOU FOR THE MUTANT!

Setting David starts off by recounting how he made his way home following his encounter with Sophie (in chapter 1), describing the usual route he takes, in much detail. For example, he mentions how he uses the narrow, little-used track in the woods which is the usual method he uses in order to get home. This shows that he not only ventures out alone often, showing his independence, but that he knows his territory very well too. From Davids journey home, we can also see that the houses in that district are rather inaccessible as he has to travel along a few fields before reaching home. As seen, after a mile or so I reached cultivated land, with the house in sight across three or four fields. This also shows that despite owning a large amount of land, David and his family is quite isolated from the population, and they probably lead a lonely life because their house is situated at such an inconvenient place. Then, he tries his best to illustrate the appearance of his odd house, which was built over fifty years earlier with a mixture of timber, bricks and stones, and had many rooms. Further into the chapter, he mentions and describes the fireplace in their living-room; that the great fireplace there was an object of pride, thus speaking of the wealth of the household and how they can afford such an impressive fireplace. In comparison to the

general interior of the rest of the house which was simply whitewashed, with furniture (that) was whitely-scrubbed the grandeur of the fireplace stands out.

The interior of the Strorms house reflects how deeply their religion is integrated into their lives, with wooden panels, containing religious sayings burnt into them, such as IN PURITY OUR SALVATION decorated throughout the house. As a result, at the end of the chapter, we can see how David is so used to the sign: WATCH THOU FOR THE MUTANT! that it did not stir any thoughts within him at that point in time. This also explains why David would prefer to venture out by himself than to stay at his house which is neither comfortable nor inviting.

Character analysis David is a rather cautious person as he was watchful when he entered the woods, keeping his hand on his knife lest he may be attacked by a wild animal. He also worked along the fringe of the woods, observing carefully from cover to check if the coast was clear, so as to prevent those who knew him from realising that he ventured out. David is also quite agile, being able to cut swiftly across the bit of open ground and get into the house through his room window without Jacob, who was shovelling muck, or any other person noticing him. In order to cover such a long distance over such a short period of time, David has to be nimble and quick. David is very adventurous as well. Despite having to travel a long way just to reach the sand gully and have fun, he does not mind the trouble. He even dares to enter the woods twice every trip he makes across the bank, where he might get attacked by large creatures (that) penetrated as far into the civilised parts as Waknuk. Elias Strorm, Davids grandfather, is a very religious and evangelical man whose respect for God was frequently on his lips, and fear of the devil constantly in his heart. He was very committed to the practice of eliminating deviations as well, and his mind (was) richly stored with examples from the Bible, and from Nicholsons Repentances. Elias is also a very critical man, who did not let shortcomings pass unremarked, which is why he always had very high expectations of people including his sons and his wife. He constantly scolded his wife by straightening the coltishness with admonitions and fading the pink and gold with preaching, thus known to be disapproving. Furthermore, Elias is a dominating man. He had led his sons beliefs and practices and never had a moments doubt of the proper pattern for his heir (Joseph Strorm). He not only made sure that his son, Joseph, would grow up to be just like him, but he was also very controlling over the way he wanted his wife to live.

Elias wife was lady-like; she was pretty and cheerful, but quite timid evident from the words pretty in the pink and golden way; however, she led a lonely, plain and unfulfilling life. When she had gotten married, she had wished to be an idealistic wife to Elias, but could not fulfill that trait unfortunately. In the end, Elias had made her into a sad, grey wraith of wifehood.

Mrs. Strorm was also afraid of Elias. David had been told she moved like a lovely colt when she thought herself unwatched; as timorously as a rabbit when she felt her husbands eye upon her. This tells us that Eliass wife had a lack of confidence about herself whenever she thought that he was watching her, meaning she was nervous around him as she knew he would be critical of her and her actions. She was a compliant and submissive woman as she had still gone along with Elias and the marriage and had died, unprotesting. She was not happy with the marriage, as she had initially wanted a blissful and love-filled marriage, which is why, after failing to provoke love or youthfulness from him, she attempted to become a typical, dutiful wife by running his home in the manner of an experienced housekeeper, but once again failed to please him. Joseph Strorm, Davids father, is like his father, Elias Strorm, as he had followed through his fathers practice of eliminating Offences and Blasphemies. However, he was a man of local consequence; he was more legalistic and less evangelical in his ways of punishment. It can be said that Joseph Strorm also takes the law into his own hands because he feels that he has a position of higher power than others. As seen in the chapter, My father, however, seldom called in the inspector, he preferred to be on the safe side and liquidate anything doubtful. This shows that he was arrogant and did not want anyone to be of higher authority than him, for example, the inspector. Joseph Strorm feels that he and his family should be like role-models to the people of Waknuk. As seen, he would preach frequently on Sundaysand he administered the laws temporal, as a magistrate. For the rest of the days he saw to it that he, and all within his control, continued to set a high example to the district. This shows that he thinks of himself as the leader of Waknuk, who guides them on the path towards Purity. Davids father is a self-righteous man who is proud of himself and his family, but critical of others. The evidence can be seen in the lines, It was because my father was a careful and pious man that we used to have more slaughterings and burnings than anyone else: but any suggestion that we were more afflicted with Offences than other people hurt and angered him. This is ironic; although the father felt that his family was ideal, since they had always gotten rid of every Offence properly, he did not want to be associated with Offences at all as it would lower his reputation of keeping Purity. Emily Strorm, wife of Joseph and Davids mother, has always had the same views, and hardly has any conflict with Joseph. She is extremely meticulous and upkeeps the house

with a very tight control as it is said that (she) saw to it that the big room was kept very neat and tidy.

Techniques used In the previous chapter, David had just met and played with Sophie, who was a mutant, only a few hours before returning to his house and mentioning the sign WATCH THOU FOR THE MUTANT! again, yet nothing registered in his mind about Sophie or mutants as it was too familiar to stir a thought. Hence, we can say that situational irony has been used as the readers know about Sophie, while David does not. There is also a feeling of suspense at the end, when David mentions the sign WATCH THOU FOR THE MUTANT! (as mentioned earlier) which faced him, even though it did not interest him, thus leaving readers wondering why it was mentioned and whether it would have any connection, significance, or cause any conflict (which in fact it does), in the chapters ahead.

Significance of chapter a) This chapter allows us to understand Davids background and family history in depth and how it is related to the history of Waknuk. How and why Davids grandfather had founded Waknuk and made their house What Davids familys and fathers beliefs are and how they originated Why they all disapprove of Deviation and how they get rid of Offences and Blasphemies Joseph Strorms role in the society of Waknuk and in Davids life It also creates a contrast to what happens in the chapters to come. In this chapter, David was an innocent and nave boy who was oblivious to the message behind WATCH THOU FOR THE MUTANT!, and the fact that Deviations like Sophie were not tolerated in Waknuk. However, in later chapters, he would come to know more about Sophie, who was a mutant, and would discover himself to be a mutant.

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) b) (i)

(ii)

(iii)

This is why the chapter is different from later chapters, when he realises the truth about the elimination of Blasphemies, his life changes drastically, and he is forced to accept the cruel reality of the world he was living in.

Important quotes He was a husky man, a dominating man, and a man fierce for rectitude. pg 12, para 2 (Elias) She was shy, pretty in the pink and golden way. pg 12, para 3 (Elias wife) Elias was not a man to let shortcomings pass unremarked. pg 12, para 5 (Elias) The evangelical flash did not appear in my fathers eye; his virtue was more legalistic. pg 12, second last para (Joseph) She had a strong sense of duty, and never doubted where it lay. pg 13, para 1 (Emily) The Devil struts his wide estates, and the laws of God are mocked. pg 15, last para (a quote by Joseph) WATCH THOU FOR THE MUTANT! pg 14 or 18, para 1 and last para (a religious saying)