Accepting Change

Jordyn Burgar
The essential quality of life is living; the essential quality of living is change; change is
evolution: and we are part of it -Sealand Lady. Evolution means to develop from
something simple to a more complex form. Here the Sealand Lady is saying change is
evolution, and quality of living is change. The Waknuk society is not evolving, therefore
change is not happening and the quality of life is not good. In order for Waknuk to
evolve they need to stop listening to Joseph Strorm. He has single handedly stopped all
change in that community. Change needs to be the first step in this process to creating
a better quality of life. In The Chrysalids there are some Characters who accept change
and some who dont. Joseph is a man who wont let Waknuk evolve because of his non
accepting view on change. He believes that if there is some unknown or something
different from their Bible or Nicholson's Repentances then it needs to be disposed of.
Sometimes an event or change just happens and could be beneficial, and thinking
about the outcome is necessary. Joseph doesnt take this into account. He simply
doesnt care and is unwilling to allow his morals to waver over some event that may
affect him or his community. There are characters however who allow change, such as
David, Josephs son. David may not allow change to better a community but he accepts
change to excel his life. He has created a good quality of life for himself because he is
willing unlike his father to allow change influence him.
The Waknuk society is all based around people with power unwilling to change such as
Joseph Strorm. When there is an opportunity to improve they simply wont accept it. In
contrast, Angus Morton has his two great horses and Joseph has issue with them.
Though these horses have been government approved Joseph still goes to the
inspector because he believes they do not belong. Proof of this is when the Inspector
says Theyre Government approved, so they are beyond my jurisdiction, anyway.
Joseph responds God never made horses the size of these. The Government cant
have approved them. Then again, the community sees these great horses as
something to help them improve, such as plow their crops faster or pull heavier wagons.
Joseph does not see the benefit of these horses because of his beliefs and therefore
attempts to take away any potential progress from the community. Joseph ignored the
possibility of change as a benefit to his society. In Waknuk if the crops and animals
werent perfect then they would burn and kill them. If Joseph could see the benefit of
bigger crops, then this could improve his civilization by creating a market where people
can trade their bigger crops for material goods. It would force people to become more
inventive and help shape a prosperous future. Joseph had an opportunity to change his
views when David commented on having a third hand to help him. Joseph hears this
and makes David get on his knees and pray right away. Joseph says Pray, you
wretched boy for a forgiveness you do not deserve, but which God, in His mercy, may
grant you. In this situation, Joseph could have been more understanding that David
didnt really want to become deviant, he was just making a remark. David is harmless
and isnt trying to go against God or the Bible.

David firmly believes what his father Joseph has taught him about the image of God and
what the norm is. David finds out Sophie has six toes, and says A blasphemy was, as
had been impressed upon me often enough, a frightful thing. Yet, there was nothing
frightful about Sophie. She was simply an ordinary little girl - if a great deal more
sensible and braver than most. Yet, according to the Definition Clearly there must be
a mistake somewhere. Surely having one very small toe extra - well, two very small
toes, because I supposed there would be one to match on the other foot - surely that
couldnt be enough to make her hateful in the sight of God David had been taught all
his life the norm image and that blasphemies were from Satan. When Sophie reveals to
have six toes, David doesnt go run and tell on her. He doesnt become scared of her,
instead he accepts her for what she is. David changes his personal perspective on
mutant people because he truly believes that Sophie is not an image of Satan. To
David, she is a normal person with two extra toes. Some people change their ways
because something or someone influenced them, others stick to their beliefs and wont
be wavered. Another example of David changing his views on what is deviant and
acceptable, is when he realizes he has special abilities that could be seen as a
blasphemy. His ability to think thought shapes is not part of the norm preached by
Joseph. This realization completely changes his perception of what he was taught. His
love for both Petra and Rosalind is stronger than his dads influence on him. Lastly,
David finds a way to accept change that will improve his own lifestyle by going with the
Sealand lady. He doesn't know her at all but is willing to leave his deranged life in
Waknuk and go with her to an unknown place. He is willing to accept that he is different
and that he can go and be surrounded by people just the same as him. Together in a
new society they can all be innovative and use their gift to make great success for
themselves.
Waknuk is a place that would seem to stay the same forever. They are never improving,
never exploring, never changing. The rest world is constantly changing in almost every
aspect. Here everyone can all find a place where they belong and a place where they
can excel, creating that chain of change, evolution and therefore a good quality of life.
David, Petra and Rosalind are able to find a place where they will be accepted with their
special abilities. Joseph, the leader of Waknuk, needs to have recognition and
acceptance of change; this will only help the society succeed in their everyday lives.
Joseph was never accepting of these changes and would never think of them to better
or worse his life. In ways such as utilizing the gift of the Great Horses, or realizing that
not burning every defective crop would create more food for his community. David
however, was able to find ways to accept what these changes were and improve his life
by acknowledging them. In making friends and accepting Sophie, David created a
friendship which at the end of the book would save his life. He has created better life
values and morals by having and demonstrating accepting change.