In these chapters David's younger sister, Petra, is introduced. Around the same time we learn that David's aunt has given birth to a deviated child and she has not yet announced it because she doesn't want to have to give up her baby. David's aunt tries to get help from Mrs. Strorm but she rejects her sister's pleas mercilessly. David's aunt then vanishes into the night and is later discovered, dead, but the child is not mentioned. David begins to realise that his telepathy is a deviation and if it were ever discovered he would be cast out and he prays to be "normal" so that he can live his life without the constant fear of being discovered. The telepaths begin communicating their knowledge of the way things actually work and they have to be careful not to make what they know evident. The final line of chapter eight is "Until, in fact, the day when we discover that the eight of us had suddenly become nine." I think this is somehow related to the birth of Petra. I feel terrible for David's aunt, Harriet, because I think someone killed her. It's not fair that she should have to give up her child because it didn't fit the norm and I am repulsed by the fact that Mrs. Strorm flat out told her sister that the child was a defilement and wouldn't even call it a human. I wonder how many people had died as infants because they were imperfect and I believe that it is unfair to blame the mother for the child being deviated as it could just as easily be the father's fault. I feel bad for David when he decides that he wants to be normal as my opinion is that you should never strive to be something you're not.
Really great reflection!! I like how you summarized it well and included the most important parts. I agree that Mrs. Strorm acted terribly considering Aunt Harriet was her own sister. Would she change her mind if her baby had the deformity? I like your prediction about Petra and how she will fit into the story later.
ReplyDelete