A relationship is a bond or connection that is created throughout life. These bonds usually break if they are established incorrectly, i.e. in a bad relationship. When a father creates a bond with his son, the bond must be established correctly, otherwise the son will miss out on a vital part of his life. Throughout the progression of The Chrysalids, the author, John Windham, illustrates two unique relationships. This story is set in the future in a post-apocalyptic land called Labrador, cut off from the rest of the world by radiation. Primitive communities in this religious land believe that people who have any form of mutation are children of the devil, and are banished to the Fringe, a radiation-filled land isolated from the communities. The main character, David, is the son of Waknuk's strictest and most law-abiding citizen, Joseph Strorm. David is supported by his helpful and friendly uncle Axel throughout the story. The relationship between Uncle Axel and David is much stronger and better than the relationship between David and his father. One way Wyndham shows that the relationship between David and his father is worse than the relationship between David and Uncle Axel is the way Joseph treats David. On many occasions he is shown to be a mean and indifferent father towards David. Joseph rarely communicates with David, and when he does, he uses a certain tone of voice that indicates his anger. For example, after David hurts his hand and his mother has to bandage it, he says, “I could have done it on my own if I had had another hand” (Wyndham 26). Joseph gets very angry because he thinks David wants to be a mutant: “I caught my father's expression just as he was turning away in amazement... in the middle of the paper... he says “Then I put a new string on my bow ” (Wyndham 118). Alan is found with an arrow in his neck, so it is understood that Axel killed him to protect the rest of the shape thinkers. An uncle who goes so far as to kill someone who poses a threat to his nephew is much more than just an uncle or even a father. Joseph is a terrible father and is unfair to David because of his physical and verbal abuse of David. David feels uncomfortable in his father's presence, while he welcomes Uncle Axel's company. In contrast to Joseph, Axel shows his care for David through actions and words. David and his uncle are much closer to each other than David and his father, whose admonitions are the only words spoken to David. A son should love his father, rather than fear him. Every child should have the right to have a healthy relationship with their parents.