David Strorm Write-Up

David Strorm is a round character. David grows up in Waknuk, a God-fearing district where all living organisms must be of the “True Image”, without any form of mutation (Deviation as it is called in the story). David is able to “thought-speak” with others that also have the ability. These people are, Rosalind Morton, Anne, Rachel, Mark, Katherine, Sally, Michael and last of all, his younger sister Petra Strorm.

David Strorm is adventurous. We know this because, as a child, he often snuck away to the bank and to other places with Sophie (Page 36: ”I was able to get away early, and during those long summer days Sophie and I roamed more widely than before”). He is also courageous because he stayed behind, all night, at the Wender’s house so they could get away (Page 42: “’ It’s this. When [the Wenders] [have gone] don’t go home at once. Will you stay here till tomorrow morning? That’ll give [them] more time to get her safely away. Will you do that?’ ‘Yes,’ [he] said, reliably.”) .

He matures from the start of the story till the end where he arrives in Sealand. His innocence when he was young is clear when he asks Sophie’s mother why she had not cut off Sophie’s toes. Also, he asked to escape with the Wenders when they had to leave Waknuk because of the discovery of Sophie’s deviation. David soon learns that he has to conceal As the story goes on, David begins to mature, partly due to his forced escape to the Fringes. He takes the responsibility as an older brother to protect Petra. He “woke up sweating with fright” as he imagined Petra being executed. He even had the frame of mind to “play our hand to the best advantage” talking with Gordon Strorm, a Blasphemy who was much older than him.

David learns important lessons about Waknuk that enables him to be undiscovered for a long time. He was taught to not reveal his deviation to anyone else by Uncle Axel and has the sense to do so. He decides to leave Waknuk when some of the telepaths are revealed by Alan, Anne’s husband. Uncle Axel decides to help the group out and shoots Alan. However, it was too late and the Inspector had been informed of some the telepaths. Katherine and Sally were captured soon after Anne’s suicide (due to her husband’s death, she decides to take her own life.) Luckily for them, Rosalind, David and Petra were able to run away while Mark, Rachel and Michael were undiscovered. Rosalind, David and Petra were able to escape to the Fringes where Petra was able to make contact with her friend in Sealand. They were instructed to protect Petra at all costs as her telepathic skills were incredible and also urged to play for time as the Sealand people would be coming to save them.