SPOILER ALERT- PLOT SUMMARY TRIGGER WARNING- DROP OF BLOOD.

SPOILER ALERT- PLOT SUMMARY

TRIGGER WARNING- DROP OF BLOOD

INDEPENDENT STUDY UNITTHE CHRYSALIDS AND GATTACA

THEME ANALYSIS: CHANGE

THE THEME OF CHANGEo The authors develop the theme of change through the characters

who fight society’s prejudice and discrimination of them as outcasts due to their physical defects.

o The authors warn us that without change, the blind acceptance of traditions and strict social conformity will continue to lead to the persecution and destruction of fellow human beings

oWithout change, there will continue to be consequences of people believing that they belong to a superior race or group

JOHN WYNDHAM PARKES LUCAS BEYNON HARRIS Pseudonym: John Wyndham, 1903-1969, English, science fiction and detective novel writer:The Day of the Triffids (1951), The Kraken Wakes (1953), The Chrysalids, (1955, published in the US as Re-Birth , The Midwich Cuckoos (1957), filmed twice as Village of the Damned

ANDREW NICCOL born 1964, New Zealand, now in USA, screen-writer and director: Gattaca (1997), The Truman Show (1998), Lord of War (2005), In Time (2011), The Host (2013), Good Kill (2014)

THE CHRYSALIDS Wyndham presents a post apocalyptic world

in which a simplistic religious community practices eugenics to maintain the true image of God. In this story the main character David Strorm must hide his telepathic abilities, considered a Deviation from the norm. If discovered, he would be sterilized then exiled to the outcasts in the Fringes. He and the other telepaths from his group seek refuge with the Sealanders, a highly developed society – a place foreshadowed in his dreams.

THE CHRYSALIDS

GATTACA

Vincent Freeman always dreams to be an astronaut but is considered genetically inferior or "in-valid" due to physical problems such as poor eyesight, a congenital heart defect, and short life expectancy of 30. 2 years. He defies society’s genetic discrimination and prejudice by assuming the identity of Jerome Morrow, a laboratory-engineered "valid." He breaks the law by purchasing Jerome’s DNA identity and joins the Gattaca space program..

TEXT ANALYSIS: SCENE 1: UNCLE AXEL AS A CATALYST FOR CHANGEUncle Axel questions conformity and the true image = a change in attitude and philosophyDavid and Uncle Axel:

‘But, Uncle, if we don’t try to be like the Old People and rebuild the things that have been lost, what can we do?

‘Well, we might try being ourselves, and build for the world that is, instead of for one that’s gone, ‘ he suggested.

‘I don’t think I understand,’ I told him. ‘You mean not bother about True Line or the True Image? Not mind about Deviations?’ (Wyndham 79)

The author is saying that without change, blind conformity contributes to the downfall of Waknuk society.

Scene 1 (continued)Uncle Axel asks David to consider an alternate notion about the Definition of man:

‘What do you think it is that makes a man a man?’

I started on the Definition. He cut me off after five words.

‘It’s not!’ He said. ‘A wax figure could have all that, and he’d still be a wax figure, wouldn’t he?’

‘I suppose he would.’

‘Well, then, what makes a man a man is something inside him.’

‘A soul?’ I suggested.

‘No,’ he said, ‘souls are just counters for churches to collect, all the same value, like nails. No, what makes a man man is mind; it's not a thing, it’s a quality, and minds aren’t all the same value; they’re better or worse, and the better they are, the more they mean.’(79-80)

The author makes the point that through blind conformity and believing in the true image, people will believe that they belong to a superior race or group. The character of Uncle Axel is used to develop a new awareness and conscience in society. At first David does not fully comprehend the meaning of his Uncle’s speech, but it stays with him, which he later pieces together through further discussions with Uncle Axel and the group.

‘They’re pig-headedly determined to keep the Old People’s standards – but do they? Can they? How do they know that their crops and their fruit and their vegetables are just the same? Aren’t there disputes? And doesn’t it nearly always turn out that the breed with the higher yield is accepted in the end? … Sure, they can wipe out the obvious deviations, but are you sure that the Old People would recognise any of the present breeds at all? … You can’t stop it, you see. You can be obstructive and destructive, and you can slow it all up and distort it for your own ends, but somehow it keeps on happening. Just look at these horses.’(pg.154)

SCENE 2: THE MAN IN THE FRINGES CRITICAL OF WAKNUK SOCIETY’S BLIND CONFORMITY

The man is critical of the hypocrisy of Waknuk society. He points out that change is continual and inevitable.

He continues:

They stamp on any change: they close the way and keep the type fixed because they’ve got the arrogance to think themselves perfect. As they reckon it, they, and only they, are in the true image; very well, then it follows that if the image is true, they themselves must be God; and, being God, they reckon themselves entitled to decree, “thus far, and no farther.” That is their great sin: they try to strangle the life out of Life.’ (154)

The author is saying because man is blind to change, he is not living, just existing. Without change, there will continue to be consequences of people believing that they belong to a superior race or group

As a result, man will continue to persecute and destroy fellow human beings.

‘Your work is to survive. Neither his kind, nor his kind of thinking will survive long. They are the crown of creation, they are ambition fulfilled – they have nowhere more to go. But life is change, that is how it differs from the rocks, change is its very nature … The living form defies evolution at its peril; if it does not adapt, it will be broken. The idea of completed man is the supreme vanity: the finished image is a sacrilegious myth.’ (182)

SCENE 3: THE SEALAND WOMAN’S PHILOSOPHY ABOUT CHANGE Her criticism of David for questioning whether to honour his father.

The author is saying that David’s society has become ‘history without being aware if it’ (182) because they refuse to change. If they continue with this mindset, they will destroy themselves, and end up a in ‘a place among the fossils’(182).

She concludes: ‘The essential quality of life is living; the essential quality of living is change; change is evolution: and we are part of it’(196).

https://birth of Vincent (start at 53 seconds)

GATTACA THEME TIE-IN: Society is genetically engineered and people are predesigned for certain lives, except for Vincent – or those who are created naturally. How do people like Vincent survive in this oppressive society?

Vincent’s parents choose not to use a geneticist, and, as a result,Vincent is born with several defects.

He is labeled in-valid and is destined to menial labour and prejudice from society. His dream in life is to be an astronaut.

Vincent changes his identity, and joins the Gattaca space mission. Just before he is to leave on his first flight he must pass a new inspection – A urine sample test which he will ultimately fail. The doctor Lamar initiating the validation, like Uncle Axel, protects Vincent, because he knows of Vincent’s true identity. This scene develops the theme of change.

Gattaca clip of Dr Lamar and Vincent https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcKSvhyGNik

Vincent: What's this? Dr. Lamar: New policy, what's the matter? Flight got you nervous. Vincent: Nope, there's a problem Lamar... Dr. Lamar: ...I still haven't told you about my son, have I? He's a big fan of yours... Vincent: Just remember. I was as good as any, and better than most... Dr. Lamar: ...He wants to apply here... Vincent: ...I could've gone up and back and nobody would've been the wiser... Dr. Lamar: ...unfortunately my son's not all that they promised. But then again, who knows what he could do. [test reveals Vincent as invalid] Dr. Lamar: For future reference, right-handed men don't hold it with their left. Just one of those things. [Lamar hits button revealing Jerome's valid i.d] Vincent: [Vincent stares into Lamar's eyes, hesitating] Dr. Lamar: You're gonna miss your flight, Vincent. 

Dr Larmer is like Uncle Axel risks his job to protect Vincent. He represents society’s change in conscience to help the marginalized people like Vincent and his own son, who are considered in-valid due to birth defects.

CONCLUSION

The inhabitants of Waknuk, the Fringes, Sealand, and Vincent’s

society have different ideas about religion and true image. The

authors show that without change prejudice and discrimination will

continue. The change agents Uncle Axel, David and his group, and

Vincent and Dr. Larmer represent society’s conscience for equality.

Without change, there will continue to be the consequence of

people believing that they belong to a superior race or group.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wyndham

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/jun/10/johnwyndham

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._G._Wells

http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0006938/quotes

WORKS CITED

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119177/synopsis?ref_=ttpl_pl_synhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0629272/

Wyndham, John. The Chrysalids. Toronto: Penguin Books Canada Ltd, 1980. Print.