HOW ARE ISSUES OF SOCIAL IDENTITY PRESENTED IN “THE CHRYSALIDS” BY JOHN WYNDHAM'S ?

how are issues of social identity presented in “the chrysalids” by John Wyndham's ?



how are issues of social identity presented in “the chrysalids” by John Wyndham's ?

Introduction

'The chrysalides' is a fictional novel that warps us into the future, and shows part of society that has emerged, following post nuclear apocalyptic scenario. A society in this time has emerged, that is a place where people are ingrained with qualities social bigotry, discrimination and intolerance, enmity, hypocrisy, social division, as outlined by the author. This is brought to light by in the form of satirical and plot driven story of eight individuals who need to maintain secrecy in order to keep their abilities or 'abnormalities' hidden from the common people.

The social injustice is the over- riding theme of the book. To understand this reason social indiscrimination the plot the back ground the settings must be looked at. Although, the surroundings set in the book is of technological advancements in the future, the civilization of the human is based on the ones who have survived the nuclear apocalypse. Therefore, the attitude of the people in this period is the one that has been traumatized by the past events, which is believed to have occurred as a God's punishment for allowing immoral acts to have occurred. In order to evade any such occurrence again, people are bound to only adhere to one ideal situation of human being. Any deviations from this ideal is set to be destroyed. Coming from this point of view, the scenario set in this book is reminiscent of old fundamental Christian ideology of our present past.

The author is concern with general impression rather than given in depth recounts of specific characters with unique circumstances. ...