The Chrysalids

Mutations, known as Deviations or Blasphemies to the people of Waknuk, are the result of nuclear fallout (or, in their view, Tribulation and God’s punishment). Mutations range from minor to severe, including Sophie’s extra toe, Gordon’s elongated arms and legs, and enormous or strangely-shaped crops. Deviations in crops and animals are dealt with by destroying them, but human Deviations are sent to live in the Fringes to absolve the people of Waknuk of their guilt. They are seen as inhuman abominations and are not to be empathized with. Since Deviations appear human, it feels wrong to kill them, but that does not stop Waknuk from banishing and sterilizing them. David is warned against “mutants” from the time he is a small child, with warnings like “WATCH THOU FOR THE MUTANT! [...] THE NORM IS THE WILL OF GOD” (18). For a long time, he accepts this as the truth, but when he meets Sophie and sees how harmless her mutated toes are, he cannot see the logic anymore: “Clearly there must be a mistake somewhere. Surely having one very small toe extra […] couldn’t be enough to make her ‘hateful in the sight of God…’? The ways of the world were very puzzling” (14).