6 toes or telepathy? The Chrysalides by John Wyndham is a beautiful story about a boy named David Storm who lives in a community against all forms of deviation. David meets a girl who happens to be a mutant and this changes David's perspective on the subject. He later discovers that he has a mutation called telepathy. He has the ability to send thought forms to others like himself. David's mutation makes him more intelligent, understanding and responsible. He becomes more intelligent when he learns to send and receive thought forms to others. His mutation also allows him to better understand what other mutants are going through. Finally, he takes responsibility for raising Petra. These are three ways David's mutation made him a better person. David's deviation makes him smarter in many different ways. Throughout the novel, David himself learns to send thought forms. He figures out what to do and begins to communicate with others. Over time, David realizes that his ability to send thoughtforms is blasphemy and that he must keep it a secret or he will be sent to the Fringes. He understands the consequences of his deviation and does everything in his power to be discovered or discovered by the group. After Uncle Axel explained to David how his telepathy had to remain secret, David says, moreover, in trying to convey to them Uncle Axel's seriousness, I must have stirred up an uneasiness that was on all their minds, because there was no disagreement. They made the promise voluntarily; eagerly, in fact, as if it were a burden they were relieved to share (32). This shows that he cared about the safety of the other group members and himself. David comes to accept himself with his mutation. After Aunt Harriet's death, David p...... middle of paper ...... Rosalind says, “Leave it to David and me” (111). This shows that David and Rosalind bear responsibility for Petra. David teaches her more about her deviation and helps her send thought forms. After Petra's pony was killed, David explains, "I did my best to explain it to her, but even at her current age of almost eight, the need to express it in fairly simple words presented a challenge. difficulty” (112). This shows David trying to teach Petra telepathy and proves his responsibility. David's transfer helped him learn many good skills that he can use later in life, he became more intelligent, responsible and understanding. Without his transfer, he would never have gained the independence he did. Whether it was raising Petra or keeping a secret, David always did his best. Works Cited Wyndham, John. Chrysalids. London: Penguin 1958