A Character Analysis of Joseph Strorm

Secondly, Joseph is very bigoted. He always gives his entire opinion and that he does that is bad for everyone. He discriminates against “Deviations,” human or not, without even knowing what it is. One situation that displays his bigotry is when he tells the inspector “It is your moral duty to issue an order against these so-called horses” (Wyndham, 37). He was judgmental against those horses just because he feels that “a horse that size is not right” (Wyndham, 37). Readers would also believe Joseph is bigoted when he calls Harriet’s child, his own nephew, a monster, simply because of a small birth defect. Even though the child is his own blood relative, because of one tiny flaw that is not the child’s fault, he hates it.

Lastly, Joseph is extremely religious. Though he is bigoted and arrogant, he is very faithful to his beliefs. His devotion and loyalty towards God and the rules in the Repentances are admired in his community. Joseph is even considered the "Head Priest" of his religious group.   He is very openly against deviations of any kind, and will pray for forgiveness every time he hears of one, even if the deviation is not his own. After Aunt Harriet had asked Mrs. Strorm to exchange babies before suiciding, killing both her and her daughter, Joseph still prayed for Harriet (not the baby, though, because it “does not exist”). As David narrates, “My father included Aunt Harriet’s name in our prayers the evening of the day the news came” (Wyndham, 75). Joseph prays for her because God’s forgiveness is very important to him. Being religious, he does not want to offend God in any way. With this quality, it is seen that Joseph has a complicated personality that adds life to this novel. Readers will learn from Joseph Strorm’s character that even those who are religious are not entirely good.