Gordon Strorm Character Analysis in The Chrysalids

Gordon resembles his brother, Joseph, except that Gordon has extremely long arms and legs. At one point he is described as “the spidery man.” As a result, he was banished from Waknuk and cast out into the Fringes. Gordon believes that, as the first-born Strorm, he should be in charge of Waknuk instead of Joseph. David first meets Gordon as a young child, when Gordon is taken hostage in a Fringe attack on Waknuk. Later, when David escapes to the Fringes, Gordon captures David, Rosalind, and Petra, and holds them hostage to provoke an attack by the Waknukians. Gordon wants to have children with Rosalind, but he is in a relationship with Sophie. Gordon is extremely vengeful and bitter and kills his own brother in battle.

Gordon Strorm Character Timeline in The Chrysalids

The timeline below shows where the character Gordon Strorm appears in The Chrysalids. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...His father notices the man as well, and when the two make eye contact, the Fringe leader returns his gaze with a look of hatred so intense that David does not forget... (full context)

...whom David calls “the spidery man,” tells David that his mother, Elias Strorm's wife, loved him so much that she hid him away instead of allowing him to be captured. The... (full context)

The spidery man suggests that David has lost Waknuk as well, and questions why he is not fighting... (full context)

...spidery man’s eye and he looks her over for a long time. David, angry, attacks him, but the man’s guards drag him away. The spidery man explains that there are very... (full context)

David awakes to a woman dragging him along the forest floor. He is shocked to see that she does not wear a... (full context)

...with Rosalind and learns that she and Petra are being kept in a tent near Gordon’s. He enlists Sophie’s help in retrieving them before Gordon returns. Sophie goes to Gordon’s tent... (full context)

...snarls, “Damn you… Go on, laugh at me… Laugh at me because I do want him.” Everyone is shocked and no one responds. After a period of silence, Petra goes to... (full context)

...try to kill or forgive his father, but the woman from Zealand interrupts and tells him that keeping Petra safe should be his utmost priority. Echoing the sentiments of the man... (full context)

Sophie leaves the cave to find out Gordon’s plan of attack, which she relays to David, who in turn passes it on to... (full context)