"He must, I think, have been greatly tempted by the thought that a dead boy could break no promise. Perhaps Mr. Wender saved me," (Wyndham, 25). John Wender displays many different aspects that helps and protects the people he loves most including his daughter, wife and even David Strorm. He demonstrates three traits in particular to the upmost effect throughout the novel. He is determined to protect his family from the Waknuk people and learns that David Strorm knows of a secret within their family that might decide between life and death. Can David Strorm be trusted? As John Wender gets to know David their relationship between each other grows as if they were meant to be friends. The kindness that John demonstrates to David is hard to forget. Throughout the novel, "The Chrysalids," John shows many character traits that develop his identity. Three of the most prominent traits exhibited by John are determination, kindness and trustfulness. .
Firstly, John Wender exhibits why he is such an important figure from the determination he shows throughout the novel. Determined to protect his family from the society he lives in, and more importantly the daughter he has. She is a young girl named Sophie no older than ten, who was born with an extra toe. In this quote it displays John's determination to protect Sophie, "The packing up was finished a little before dusk" (Wyndham, 48). John heard about the incident that happened with Sophie (Alan knowing about the extra toe) and his instinct was to get Sophie to a secure and safe place before Joseph Strorm (David's Father) would instruct people to capture or possibly kill them. He was determined to finish packing so they could set off to the forbidden Fringes people, mutants born with abnormalities who were once in the society of the Waknuk people but were banished for their alterations in appearance. In addition to John's determination, while they were travelling to the Fringes he successfully brings Sophie to safety without harm.