In The Chrysalids, David Storm's character develops significantly from the beginning of the novel to the end. In the beginning of the novel, David does not know he obtains the power of being telepathic, he lives in Waknuk, and he likes Sophie. Whereas at the end of the novel, David has learned a lot about his powers, escapes to Sealand, and loves Rosalind. David changes and develops throughout the novel by learning substantially more about himself and figuring out where he belongs. Thus David's character develops from the beginning of the novel to the end in terms of his understanding of his telepathic powers, where he chooses to live, and whom he decides to love. .
The first way David's character develops from the beginning of the novel to the end is that his understanding of telepathy becomes greater. In the beginning, David does not yet realize that he is different from what is considered the norm in Waknuk. "Other people, as far as she knew, did not have such pictures in their heads" (5). This quote reveals that David has a different and unique way of thinking. When David tells his sister about his dreams, she tells him not to mention them and to keep them to himself, for sharing them could land him in serious trouble. In contrast, at the end of the novel David is fully aware of his powers. Since David is aware that he does not fit into the definition of man, he conceals his powers to try to stay alive. David states "It's difficult to explain. But it isn't all wonderful. It can hurt a lot sometimes" (167). This quote shows that David feels his powers are difficult to deal with. He cannot turn them off or ignore them. David develops from having no knowledge of his powers, to having multiple experiences with telepathy by the end of the novel. Secondly David is living in Waknuk with his family in the beginning, whereas at the end of the novel he escapes Waknuk to go live in Sealand with his group of friends whom are all telepathic.
