The Chrysalids Study Guide

In the beginning of chapter 3, we see that David has established a regular routine out of visiting Sophie. Once Sophie’s foot is completely healed, he brings her to one of the interesting sights in the county of Waknuk; the steam engine. Sophie is amazed and this brings forth mild debate about the technological advancements the Old People owned. Once David brings Sophie back home, David sees Mr. Wender, Sophie’s father. We learn that there is visible tension between John and David, David believes that these feeling steam from the fact that Mr. Wender does not trust him: this is understandable, since he is the son of Joseph Strorm whose reputation precedes him in the purging of Deviations. However, David understands the severity of the situation Sophie is going through. This leads to a recollection David lived through recently. While splitting wood one day, David got a splinter. Having tried to retrieve the lodged piece of wood from his hand, it began to bleed. He then went to the house to bandage the wound and everyone was too busy to assist him. Cursing under his breath, he mused at how convenient it would be to have a third arm. After this statement, there was a long pause and David’s father was visibly mortified. He harshly punished his son for wishing to be a Blasphemy. Despite his meekresponses, all people present were ordered to appeal to God for forgiveness. He was then sent to his room for the remainder of the evening, where Joseph gave him a beating. That night, sleep came uneasily to David. He had a horrid dream about one of the ceremonies in which his father purges the farmOffences. However there is one distinct difference: instead of a deformed goat or an imperfect stalk of corn, Joseph Strorm is killing young Sophie. David suddenly awoke and remembers feeling terrible. He knows that if Mr. Wender had seen his horror and understood his deep fear of her secret beingrevealed, Mr. Wender would be much more trusting.