For my text to text connection, I chose to connect it to the divergent series. To represent my connection I drew and cut out 6 symbols. 5 of them represented a faction in the divergent series, and the 6 one I created myself to represent the divergents that can be apart of any faction. First of all, I chose to connect the book the Chrysalids to the divergent series because of the way the civilizations arranged themselves. In the Chrysalids, if you had a deviation, you would be banished from the civilization and in Divergent if it was revealed that you’re a divergent you would be executed. In both of these novels, there is a clear connection in the way that the community views people that are not alike. The second connection between the Chrysalids and Divergent was observed in the way that the people that had this deviation dealt with it. In the Chrysalids David was gifted with a telepathic deviation and was forced to conceal otherwise he would end up in the fringes. In divergent Tris finds out that she is a divergent and has the ability to fit into any faction she wants. Tris is forced to conceal this secret of hers though as people perceive divergents to be threats and if she were to come out she would be sentenced to death. In both of these cases these people that have these special abilities are forced to conceal them and not embrace them as they would be heavily penalized if any of there secrets were to surface. Taking in all of these connection I chose to create my own symbol to symbolize divergent. This symbol that I created is two crossed lines with arrows on each side of them. I created this to show that these people who are divergents are able to follow several different paths which were shown through the multiple arrows. I crossed the arrows to make the symbol look like an “X” which would say that even though they may seem apart of something they will never truly fit in with the rest of their community. In the end, all of these connections that I observed between the divergent novel and the Chrysalids novel inspired me to create this piece.

For my text to world connection I chose to connect an image of a sign for classrooms and the chrysalids. The sign that I chose originally had labeled two different classrooms, one was for white people and the other was for Black. The first way in which this image of the two different classrooms connects to the Chrysalids can be seen in the way people in each were segregated. Up until 1954 segregation was a huge thing in the US especially in schools. People were judged by the colour of their skin if you were white you went here and if you were dark you would go somewhere else. In the Chrysalids the  theme is quite similar in the sense that if you a pure human you get to stay and live in the town, yet if you are a deviant and are not pure you are kicked out of the town and are forced to go live in the fringes with the rest of the deviations. This idea of separating people just because of the colour of their skin or if they have a deviation and look a little different is an idea that is commonly seen in both the novel as well as in the past. The second way in which the image of the sign for the two classrooms and the novel connects is seen when you look at people feeling of superiority. In the Chrysalids the people of Waknuk believed that they were pure and therefore the superior race, this led them to say that anybody who was not pure and was a deviant and was the devil, so they were sent into the fringes. In the image that I chose there were the two classrooms a nice one for the white and a not nearly as nice one for the dark. White people were led to do things like that as they believe that they were the superior race and that because of that they should be treated to better places than the dark skin people. Both the world and the texts carry significant themes of superiority based off of just how a person looks, and if they don’t fit that superior race they are treated differently or like in the novel they’re exiled. To help make the image that I chose better fit the book and demonstrate a clearer connection I changed it up. Instead of leaving it saying blacks and whites I changed to make it say pure and deviants. I made this change to show the similarity between the world and the novel and how both the deviants and people with darker skin were marginalized. In conclusion, the image that I chose being the sign for the different classrooms is very fitting for the book and connects on multiple levels.

The highest ranking person that I chose was Sophie because I think at the beginning of the book she is very courageous. Although her being a mutant and knowing that if she was found out about that she would get in serious trouble she still wants to live like a normal kid. She wants to live a normal life and make friends that she discards her mom’s warnings and plays with other kids. And I think it is also important that some found out her secret and that she can connect with someone and become their friend. “She hung back, turning her attention to me again. She studied me with a serious expression for a second or two, then made up her mind quite suddenly.”, this quote is from the first time she met David. Being different she was concerned at first meeting someone new but she quickly realized David is someone she can trust. Sophie is very brave and courageous and although she has differences wants to live a normal life, and this is why I put her as the highest ranking. -John

If I could choose to kill anybody in the Chrysalids, my choice would be Joseph Strorm. Joseph Strorm is the father of the main character, David Strorm. He is the magistrate of Waknuk and is very religious. Joseph’s cruelty and arrogance makes him a distasteful character worthy of killing.

Joseph’s cruelty was demonstrated throughout the story but, most notable was the way he treated his sister in-law Harriet.  Harriet went to Joseph in desperation to see if she would be able to swap her baby with the Strorm’s new baby, as her baby, her 3rd, had a mutation and she would be forced to give it up. When she approached Joseph Strorm to help her he kicked her out of the house and said “any deviation from the true image is blasphemy no less. You have produced a defilement”.  Joseph showed no concern for the way he made Harriet feel, his words and actions sadly led both his sister in-law’s suicide and the loss of the baby.

Joseph’s cruel streak was further depicted in how he handled the incident with Sophie. One Joseph’s sons, David, had a best friend with a mutation.  The best friend was Sophie and she had six toes instead of five. On the day that Sophie’s mutation was revealed, the result was a massive manhunt for her and her family.  When Joseph found out that his son had been friends with Sophie he became enraged. Joseph believed that anyone with six toes should be dealt with. Joseph was so cruel that he beat David until revealed where Sophie had fled to. The depths of Joseph’s feelings towards mutants and the beating of his own son makes it clear that he was a cruel man.

Not only was Joseph cruel but he was arrogant and believed that he was always right.

Joseph’s arrogance came through very clearly when he arbitrarily decided how a potentially mutant cat should be dealt with. One of the neighbours in Joseph’s area acquired a black cat. The cat was fine save and except it had no tail. Without questioning why the cat had no tail, Joseph arrogantly assumed that, because the cat had no tail, it was a mutant, and should be killed. Joseph ended up killing the cat, and just afterwards they found out that the cat was a special type of breed that did not have a tail. Joseph’s ego was far too big as he took matters into his own hands instead of calling in the inspector to decide. Joseph Strorm believed that his decisions as magistrate were always right.

Joseph’s arrogance also came to the forefront when there were new horses brought to the neighbouring farm. Joseph’s neighbour had purchased a new breed of horse, a breed that stood out from the others. These new horses were bigger and stronger than any typical horse. When they were bringing in the new horses Joseph said that they looked like mutants even though they were just a different type of breed. The inspector assured Joseph that they were pure, yet Joseph didn’t believe. He was so convinced that he argued with the inspector. Joseph’s arrogance saw him arguing with the inspector, whose job it is to determine if something is mutant or not. Even though the inspector is the specialist, Joseph still believed he was right.

In conclusion, Joseph Strorm’s cruelty and arrogance make him my choice as the Chrysalids character worth killing. Suffice to say Joseph initiated the death of several characters in the book not to mention pets, he had it coming!

     My favorite character in the text would be Michael (for kiss). This is because he puts others in front of himself and always think for the group. He is a natural leader that wishes for the best for the people he’s taking care of, and he would not abandon any one of his friends. For example, when David, Petra, and Rosalind were accused of being a deviant and escaped, despite knowing that he might get discovered, he kept in contact and update where the search group was. “They’ve picked up your trail again. A small farm on the edge of Wild Country. You galloped through it. Remember?” (pg 142)

Michael is also a very logical person. For the group’s sake, he understands that there are things that they have to do that would no in no way be considered “humane.” While he was contacting David after telling him about where the tracking group was, he said, “ You understand what that means David? They are scared of us. Ready to break us down in the attempt to find out more about us – once they can catch us. You mustn’t let them get hold of Rosalind or Petra – far better to kill them yourself than let then kill them. You understand?” (Pg 143)

In the end, he also volunteers to do the most dangerous job – to bring back Rachel the last telepathic in the city to a safer spot. He knew that it was a risky job, especially because he might have been suspected of helping them, but he still went for it since he believed that Rachel deserved better. “She is to go on being brave – and very careful – and in a little time, three or four days, perhaps, I shall come and fetch her away. Will you tell her that?” (Pg 197)

Selina

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton