A Haunting Study: The Midwich Cuckoos and the Turning of Children Evil

Is there a place in literature for exploring the terrifying possibility of children turning evil? While children are often seen as the light of the world, literature and mythology have their own ways of portraying the dark side through the metaphorical or direct portrayal of children's evil transformation. Doris Lessing's The Fifth Child and John Wyndham's The Midwich Cuckoos offer chilling insights into this theme.

The Mythological Background

Mythology and folklore often present children as innocent or even as avatars of mischievous beings, such as changelings and cambions. A changeling is a mythical child switched with another by elves, resulting in a marked change in demeanor and behavior. A cambion is the offspring of a coupling between an incubus and a succubus, often associated with evil or demonation.

The Literary Portrayal

Two notable works of science fiction literature that explore the theme of children turning evil are Doris Lessing's The Fifth Child and John Wyndham's The Midwich Cuckoos. Both these novels offer stark and unsettling narratives that challenge traditional views on childhood.

The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham

Set in a small English village that suddenly becomes the site of inexplicable events, The Midwich Cuckoos opens on a day when martial law is imposed and no traffic can enter the village of Midwich. The place is eerily silent, and the few visible signs of life are puzzling—stalled vehicles, prone figures, and a strange, luminous object in the sky.

The Unknown Threat

Days before the events, residents of Midwich witnessed strange occurrences, such as flocks of ravens appearing and people having prophetic dreams. These events culminate in a mysterious object being observed in the air. The military arrives, and despite their readiness, no one knows why they are there.

The Unexplained Infiltration

An entire village of women become pregnant, but the circumstances of the pregnancies are impossible to explain through conventional means, such as assault or artificial insemination. The only logical conclusion is that an otherworldly force has somehow intruded and taken advantage of the women's bodies to impregnate them.

The Children Unveiled

The children, already eerily similar in appearance, begin to congregate en masse and show signs of advanced intelligence and unity of purpose. They form a kind of parasitic society within the village, never seeking to flee but reacting defensively when provoked. The sense of unease grows as the children display unspeakable acts, provoking riots and death.

The Dilemma

A debate arises among the village adults on whether to accept the children silently or to take drastic measures. Dr. Zellaby, one of the few who sees the children for what they are, must come to a fearful decision: whether to embrace these alien intruders or to take action to protect the community.

Reflections and Implications

Wyndham's The Midwich Cuckoos presents a unique and haunting exploration of a world where the natural order is disrupted by an otherworldly presence. The novel prompts readers to question their assumptions about good and evil, the nature of individuality, and the boundaries between different species. It also raises profound questions about the ethics of segregation and the appropriate response to an alien threat.

Key Themes

Themes of alienation, loss of free will, and the consequences of invasive otherness are central to the narrative. The novel's central question is whether humans, faced with an alien presence, should attempt to coexist or eliminate the threat.

Conclusion

John Wyndham's The Midwich Cuckoos remains a remarkable and chilling work, offering a savage and thought-provoking cautionary tale about what might happen when the boundaries between species are blurred. It is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the darker aspects of human nature and the consequences of turning a blind eye to the unknown.