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The Role of Women
In the novel The Chrysalids, male is the dominant gender. Women, even though they play a major role in the lives of all the characters, are considered not as important as men. Under certain circumstances men can disown their wives and send them "away." When the mind-readers in the story see an independent woman they are surprised, almost confused by the way she appears. When a man suspects something is going on when the mind-readers show up to Petra`s rescue, only the females are asked for proper tags and proof of normalcy. Women were practically owned by their husbands and treated like property.
Women aren't treated as equals to men. A woman is expected to "give children" to her husband. If the children they give birth to are not exactly what the Government deemed the image of God they are disposed of. After a woman goes through pregnancy and gives birth to children that are not perfect three times, their husband can turn out them out and find a wife who will give them better children. Proof of this is when Aunt Harriet said, "`This is the third time. They'll take my baby away again like they took the others. I can't stand that - not again. Henry will turn me out I think. He'll find another wife who can give him proper children.`" (Wyndham 71) Women are treated more like a tool for a man to carry on the family name than someone you are in love with and like to be with.
In the novel The Chrysalids, male is the dominant gender. Women, even though they play a major role in the lives of all the characters, are considered not as important as men. Under certain circumstances men can disown their wives and send them "away." When the mind-readers in the story see an independent woman they are surprised, almost confused by the way she appears. When a man suspects something is going on when the mind-readers show up to Petra`s rescue, only the females are asked for proper tags and proof of normalcy. Women were practically owned by their husbands and treated like property.
Women aren't treated as equals to men. A woman is expected to "give children" to her husband. If the children they give birth to are not exactly what the Government deemed the image of God they are disposed of. After a woman goes through pregnancy and gives birth to children that are not perfect three times, their husband can turn out them out and find a wife who will give them better children. Proof of this is when Aunt Harriet said, "`This is the third time. They'll take my baby away again like they took the others. I can't stand that - not again. Henry will turn me out I think. He'll find another wife who can give him proper children.`" (Wyndham 71) Women are treated more like a tool for a man to carry on the family name than someone you are in love with and like to be with.