Those thought to have even a smaller form of anomaly, like Sophie, are largely victimized by sterilization and being sent to the Fringes, a place of nothingness, to die. This type of lifestyle is caused by the extremely unjust persecution of “deviations” and the fear created through “The Definition of Man” by Waknuk's authority figures. Their ignorance forces those outside of society's norms to live a life where death is considered the only salvation. Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth. This is clearly evident in The Chrysalis, the Waknuk society uses religious doctrine as a method to oppress and create "laws of purity". As the only safe "haven" among the uncontrolled Deviation on the fringes and beyond, the people of Waknuk are constantly in fear of being invaded by these Deviations which they perceive as intolerable evil and "the devil's work". As a result, strict compliance with the purity standard is established. “And every creature that appears human, but is not formed that way, is not human. She is neither man nor woman. It is blasphemy against the true image of God and hateful in the eyes of God.” (chapter