Chapter 15, 16 & 17

    At the beginning of chapter 15, David discovers that he is being dragged by Sophie who is bringing him to safety. I was surprised by how much she has changed. Is this what happens to people who have lived in a society with no laws and rules?  When she tells David and Rosalind she is in love with the Spidery man, I think she is just extremely lonely and desperate for love. She is no longer the innocent child we once knew. The Fringes have changed her. 

     I think it is extremely cool that David and Michael can communicate about what is happening! Michael is telling David all about the army's strategies to keep David, Rosalind, and Petra safe. 
   I think Sophie was very brave to rescue Petra and Rosalind even though she didn't have to. Also, I think that she has become immune to killing people because she realizes she must do it to survive. I feel really bad for Sophie, she must feel so ashamed and humiliated when she compares herself to Rosalind, but really it is not her fault. 

    Petra is able to communicate with the Zealand woman and can guide her to them. The Zealander talks a lot about the need for change and how our world is constantly in the process of it. The quote, "In loyalty to their kind, they cannot tolerate our rise; in loyalty to our kind, we cannot tolerate their obstruction" pg.196. This quote summarizes the problem in David's society and why there is not peace and unity between the different kinds of people. The quote, "The essential quality of life is living; the essential quality of living is change; change is evolution: and we are part of it" pg.196, shows that we as humans continue to develop and progress, people who restrict that and are stubborn to change are trying to stop the cycle of life.

   I think it is really interesting when they are rescued how David tries to describe a helicopter. What is this sticky glue-like substance? Is it similar to anything in our world today? Also, when they are astonished by the Zealander's flawless face and beauty, it seems so weird to them. When they arrive in the city, they are astonished with its beauty and peacefullness. I wonder where this city would be located in our world today. 

    I really enjoyed this book and thought the ending tied it all together, but I still have some questions. What about Sally, Katherine, and Mark, are any of them still alive? What about Uncle Axel? He seems like he would fit into the community of Zealand well. What happened to Michael and Rachel, will they make it to Zealand? And lastly, will David and Rosalind get married and live happily together?

Chapter 13 & 14

The journey continues in chapter 13 and 14. As David, Petra, and Rosalind venture further into the Fringes, they are disturbed by the unnatural and strange looking plants and crops. It seems where ever they go, people are fascinated by the Giant Horses. While Petra still continues to communicate with the Zealander, David and Rosalind are trying to figure out who she is and where she comes from. It must've been very frustrating for Petra trying to 
communicate when she didn't understand much herself. 

It must be terrifying for Rosalind and David knowing that pursuers are behind them and at any moment they could get caught. I don't think Petra totally understands what David means when he agrees to kill her and Rosalind if they get caught.

In chapter 14, they're captured by the Fringes and led through the country. We find out that they are going to one of the camps. Who are all these people in the camp? How long have they lived there? The Zealander talks about how Wild country was once Fringes, and Waknuk was once wild country. It is interesting to me how these people seem to forget the past so easily. When David meets his Uncle, I am surprised to find out that he wants revenge against his brother and community. Originally his Uncle seems friendly, 
welcoming, and kind, but as we get to know him more, he seems creepy, and strange. 
I predict that later on David's father, Joseph, and his uncle will meet again.

Chapter 11 & 12

In chapter 11 and 12, the major event and most intense part of the story is reached. It is the turning point in the character's lives that changes the story. Petra has another incident and can control David and his friend's reactions in order to help her when she is in trouble. I wonder if she is conscious of the fact  that she can cause such reactions in the others. I think David is very kind when he tries to teach her how to control her power and "thought shapes". Petra seems very adventurous and curious. He is a good brother by trying to protect her.

Uncle Axel warns David about being careless and he finds out that people know about him and his telepathic group. They have been betrayed and must escape. When David is awoken in the middle of the night, he finds out that he must escape immediately. It must have been really hard for him to leave everything he knew and owned behind. If it was me, I don't think I would be able to leave so quickly. I find it very interesting how Rosalind tells David about how her mother helped her to escape. She seems unlike the "norm" and society around her.

I wonder who these people from Zealand are. Could it be that these people have shorten the names of the original places they once were. Could Newf be Newfoundland and Zealand be New Zealand?

Chapter 9 & 10

At the end of chapter 8 we are left with a cliff hanger. "Until, in fact, the day when we discovered that the eight of us had suddenly become nine." In chapter 9, we find out that David's little sister, Petra, is the new member. The group of telepaths find out that Petra has overwhelming powers that she might not be aware of. They decide not to tell her in order to protect her. I think this is probably a good idea but it might backfire on them if anyone catches her. No one can send thoughts to Petra or contact her. I find it really interesting how it seems that so far, Petra, Rosalind and in some way the kid who died, Walter Brent, were all related in some way. I think that this might affect their telepathy and who can have it.

It is ironic how they think God sent "tribulation", and the weather causes "deviations" when really they (humans) created and caused it. I wonder why it seems like tribulation gets worse and better different years. I don't think Atomic bombs are still going off but maybe the radiation is going through a cycle?
The idea of a "scapegoat" to blame the deviation rate on is metioned and it must be really hard for David and his group to always live with a sense of fear that they will be found out, or be considered suspicious. 

In chapter 10, Anne, seemingly out of nowhere, tells everyone that she is getting married. She tells them that she has thought about it but I think she doesn't realizes the risk she is putting the others under. I understand where she's coming from and agree with her that it's not fair that she won't be able to marry, but does she know it would be almost impossible. She shuts them all out and pretends that she can no longer speak telepathically and seems to shut off her mind. Shortly after, Alan is "mysteriously" killed by an arrow and Anne kills herself. I feel really sorry for Rachel because she couldn't really do anything to help Anne.

Chapter 7 & 8

Imagine living in a world that will not acknowledge true life in the form of a child until it has been confirmed that the baby is "perfect" and has no flaws. In Chapter 7, the truth about how wrong David's society's values are is shown to us. David's sister, Petra, is born and his aunt Harriet also has a baby. Once the inspector finally confirms the baby is "a human" the family can finally acknowledge its existence. I find it really disturbing how the mother must give up the child if it has some kind of deformity. I think Aunt Harriet is brave by going against her beliefs in order to protect her child.

When David keeps remembering his Aunt's words and face, it seems he is the only one who hasn't forgotten. In Chapter 8, uncle Axel tells David that he found out about the 9th boy. It must have been a huge relief to the others. I like how Uncle Axel questions Tribulation and how he sees that it doesn't really make sense if it were sent from God. God couldn't be so insane and cruel could he? We also discover who the other members are. There's Michael, Sally, Katherine, Mark, Rachel, and the oldest, Anne. I think it is cool that the farther they get away from each other, the harder it is to communicate clearly. It is like when we talk to each other through distance?
I wonder if they can keep their "secret gift" hidden and how they will do it.

Chapter 5 & 6

In this Chapter, Sophie's secret is revealed and I was surprised how soon in the story it happened. 

I wonder if Alan feels any guilt for the pain and suffering he has caused Sophie. John Wender seems like a very gracious and kind man. He could of so easily of got angry at David and blamed him for everything, but he doesn't and tries to find the best solution to protect them all. David's loyalty to Sophie is really shown by how he asks Mrs. Wender if he can come with them. I find it very interesting how David can read her thoughts and knows how her words can't begin to describe her feelings. David is trapped in his society with nowhere to escape.

The only person left who can understand his feelings is Uncle Axel. Uncle Axel has seen the world outside Waknuk. He seems to be the only normal person with a logical mind around. I wonder how the "black coasts" that he refers to were made. I find it interesting how he describes the different islands he has been to. This quote is very interesting, "But what's more worrying is that most of them..... whatever is wrong with them - think that their type is the true pattern of the Old People, and anything else is a Deviation." This has caused people to wonder and question beleifs and whether they have any "real evidence" about the "true image".  This chapter tells us that the definitions of Man is NOT from the bible but from Nicholson's Repentances (written after the Tribulation). Did he know he was in the true image, or did he just think he was?

So nobody really knows what is the true image. They may think think they know but there is no proof!

Chapter 3 & 4

In Chapter 3 and 4, we see the relationship between David and Sophie grow. They explore together and talk of the Old People's ways. David tells us about when he got a splinter in his hand and couldn't bandage it himself. He says, "I could of managed it if I had another hand" (page 26). David's father's reaction is angry and outraged, he is unforgiving of David's mistakes. I think this teaches us a lot about Joseph. I wonder what if must of felt like to be David and dream about Sophie being an "offence". It really helps us to see the cruelty and evil behind Joseph's "good deeds" and actions.

It reminds me of how evil can disguise and twist itself into different forms to entwine itself in all aspects of life. In this chapter, we discover David's unusual gift, telepathy, that he and his cousin Rosalind both have. Uncle Axel makes David promise to not tell anyone about it. I wonder what will happen if anyone does find out. David and his friends are bound by their secrecy and a community is formed. When David meets a fringe, it is interesting why he feels so uncomfortable and disturbed. I think his conscious is telling him something different than what his society has taught him.  

When David teaches Sophie about the world, it seems that David's society is so focused on becoming a "pure race" that they will use whatever extreme means necessary to do so.  This really reminds me of the Nazis in WWII and the inhumane almost unbelievable cruelty that they had. The values of Davids society seem wrong and their method of keeping the human form "true" is completely against everything we believe.

Chapter 1 & 2

The first 2 chapters of the Chrysalids introduced the main character, David, and his town Waknuk where he lives. He starts the book telling his sister about a dream he had about a city and she tells him it is very important he doesn't tell anyone. The narrator then goes on to tell us about his first encounter with Sophie. Sophie is adamant about not letting David see her feet and I find it strange that she is so cautious. We soon find out that Sophie has 6 toes. I find it disturbing how David's society defines a human. It seems so wrong to me and completely against everything we believe today as christians. Sophie's mom hints at what might happen if people knew about Sophie's difference. David seems to question and wonder about the values of his community. His community (especially his father) are very law abiding, like to hold high standards, and follow the letter of the law very strictly. The idea of "offences" is very interesting. David defines them as things which did not look 'right'. Whenever something like this would occur, David's father would ceremonially slaughter, burn, or kill whatever was considered an "offence" It is interesting to see that the community of Waknuk doesn't like things that are "different". They fear them. I think this issue will come up again and David will learn more about it. Harsh and unforgiving, we are starting to see that his community is not accepting of unique people and it reminds me a little about how our society treats people who are different.