If you have read the first few pages of this book, you know that there are great amounts of prejudice in this post modern society. Everybody is looking for mutants and deviations, and anything that slightly challenges the status quo is due to wreak havoc on the culprit. This constant pressure effects all of the characters in different ways.
In the case of Mr. Strorm (David's father), it first manifests it self in paranoia. This is a recurring manifestation of the pressure wrought by prejudice in characters. When David even hints about having a third arm, he jumps him and and makes him recite the "definition of man", closely followed by a prayer of forgiveness. This clearly shows that he is paranoid about both his son making a verbal offence again, and of the government. The fear of the government is by extension also a fear of God. Both of these forces lead by fear, which, as we can see, does not work very well. This point leads onto the second manifestation of the stress by prejudice. He also seems to suffer a condition similar to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It would seem as if he must always have instant repentance for the smallest "misdeed" in the eyes of the government, as seen with David's chastisement. By the last encounter with Mr. Strorm, I would not be surprised if he was clinically insane.
The effects on David and the rest of the telepathic's is slightly less pronounced, but is still present. They are much more timid and secretive than people in our society. They are also under immense amounts of stress, and can be pushed over the edge of their capacity easily, as seen by the suicide of Rachel. The others were definitely showing signs of prolonged stress, such as David's insomnia. There are two main types of stress manifestations. One of these is commonly referred to as the fight stress response. This makes people more agitated and likely to be angry. Most of the males in the group of telepathic's exhibit this reaction. Michael is always terse in his messages, and is the first one to cut out an emotional or devastating moment. The other stress response is the flight response. When someone is exhibiting the flight response, they are more static in appearance, but are still very agitated underneath the shell of stillness. Sally and Nicholas both exhibited this behaviour towards the ends of their lives.
In conclusion, the prejudice lowers the morale and mental state of all of the people in the community, and can still do so in the actuality and present day.
In the case of Mr. Strorm (David's father), it first manifests it self in paranoia. This is a recurring manifestation of the pressure wrought by prejudice in characters. When David even hints about having a third arm, he jumps him and and makes him recite the "definition of man", closely followed by a prayer of forgiveness. This clearly shows that he is paranoid about both his son making a verbal offence again, and of the government. The fear of the government is by extension also a fear of God. Both of these forces lead by fear, which, as we can see, does not work very well. This point leads onto the second manifestation of the stress by prejudice. He also seems to suffer a condition similar to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It would seem as if he must always have instant repentance for the smallest "misdeed" in the eyes of the government, as seen with David's chastisement. By the last encounter with Mr. Strorm, I would not be surprised if he was clinically insane.
The effects on David and the rest of the telepathic's is slightly less pronounced, but is still present. They are much more timid and secretive than people in our society. They are also under immense amounts of stress, and can be pushed over the edge of their capacity easily, as seen by the suicide of Rachel. The others were definitely showing signs of prolonged stress, such as David's insomnia. There are two main types of stress manifestations. One of these is commonly referred to as the fight stress response. This makes people more agitated and likely to be angry. Most of the males in the group of telepathic's exhibit this reaction. Michael is always terse in his messages, and is the first one to cut out an emotional or devastating moment. The other stress response is the flight response. When someone is exhibiting the flight response, they are more static in appearance, but are still very agitated underneath the shell of stillness. Sally and Nicholas both exhibited this behaviour towards the ends of their lives.
In conclusion, the prejudice lowers the morale and mental state of all of the people in the community, and can still do so in the actuality and present day.
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