By: Sean Pettus

ThemeThemeThe Children of Men, an epic novel written by The Children of Men, an epic novel written by PD James PD James hashas one predominate theme: irony. one predominate theme: irony. Throughout of the book, expectations held by Throughout of the book, expectations held by society reveal themselves to be the exact society reveal themselves to be the exact opposite. Not only are expectations wrongly opposite. Not only are expectations wrongly assumed, by society and individuals, but assumed, by society and individuals, but people commit actions that completely people commit actions that completely contradict their previously stated convictions. contradict their previously stated convictions. The very people society shunned from being The very people society shunned from being apart of the cure to save humanity, ended up apart of the cure to save humanity, ended up becoming the key to save humanity. becoming the key to save humanity.

Main CharactersMain Characters

• Theo Faron:Theo Faron: Extremely intelligent man, in his fifties, is cousin Extremely intelligent man, in his fifties, is cousin to the most powerful person in England, the Warden. He is a to the most powerful person in England, the Warden. He is a retired Oxford history professor. Theo, bothered by the injustice retired Oxford history professor. Theo, bothered by the injustice in his country, joins forces with the Five Fishes, a rebel group in his country, joins forces with the Five Fishes, a rebel group committed to out Xan as ruler of England.committed to out Xan as ruler of England.

• Xan Lyppiatt: Cousin to Theodore, Xan is the tyrant of England. Xan Lyppiatt: Cousin to Theodore, Xan is the tyrant of England. Xan is mentally brilliant, and he is well aware of it. He utilizes Xan is mentally brilliant, and he is well aware of it. He utilizes everything he can to obtain whatever his wildest dreams desire. everything he can to obtain whatever his wildest dreams desire. However, even though his arrogance and ruthless attitude made However, even though his arrogance and ruthless attitude made him the Warden of England, it also leads to his demise. him the Warden of England, it also leads to his demise.

• Julian: the women who gives birth to the first child in over thirty Julian: the women who gives birth to the first child in over thirty years. She is a part of the rebel group, the Five Fishes. She ends years. She is a part of the rebel group, the Five Fishes. She ends up loving in love with Theo.up loving in love with Theo.

First QuoteFirst Quote

““For our knowledge, our intelligence, For our knowledge, our intelligence, our power, we can no longer do what our power, we can no longer do what animals do without thought” (Page animals do without thought” (Page 6). 6). The quote is referring to the fact that The quote is referring to the fact that the humans are no longer able to the humans are no longer able to reproduce, even though they have so reproduce, even though they have so many medical advances, research many medical advances, research and knowledge.and knowledge.

First Quote Continued. First Quote Continued.

►Quote: “Man had found a cure for Quote: “Man had found a cure for tuberculosis, diphtheria, polio and even in the tuberculosis, diphtheria, polio and even in the end, although too late, for AIDS.” (Page 6.)end, although too late, for AIDS.” (Page 6.)

In essence, the humans have an In essence, the humans have an incomprehensible amount of technological incomprehensible amount of technological advances and research, yet they are unable to advances and research, yet they are unable to perform the one of the most primitive human perform the one of the most primitive human activities, reproduce. It’s ironic that humans activities, reproduce. It’s ironic that humans even found a cure for AIDS, but they can no even found a cure for AIDS, but they can no longer have children, or find a cure for this longer have children, or find a cure for this epidemic. epidemic.

Second QuoteSecond Quote

Quote: “I didn’t resent it that Xan was our Quote: “I didn’t resent it that Xan was our grandparents favourite. The preference seemed grandparents favourite. The preference seemed to me perfectly natural. I can remember on to me perfectly natural. I can remember on snatch of conversation overheard at the one snatch of conversation overheard at the one Christmas when, disastrously, we were all at Christmas when, disastrously, we were all at Woolcombe. Woolcombe.

I sometimes wonder if Theo won’t go further than I sometimes wonder if Theo won’t go further than Xan in the end.Xan in the end.

Oh no. Theo is good-looking, intelligent boy, but Oh no. Theo is good-looking, intelligent boy, but Xan is brilliant.”Xan is brilliant.”

Second Quote ContinuedSecond Quote Continued

• Quote Continued: “Xan and I colluded in that judgement. Quote Continued: “Xan and I colluded in that judgement. When I got my Oxford entrance they were gratified, but When I got my Oxford entrance they were gratified, but surprised. When Xan was accepted at Balliol they took it as surprised. When Xan was accepted at Balliol they took it as his due. When I got my First they said I was lucky. When Xan his due. When I got my First they said I was lucky. When Xan achieved no more than an upper second they complained achieved no more than an upper second they complained but indulgently, that he hadn’t bothered to work.” (Page 19.)but indulgently, that he hadn’t bothered to work.” (Page 19.)

It was evident that Xan, cousin to the main character, Theo It was evident that Xan, cousin to the main character, Theo Faron, was heavily favored by their family. It seem obvious Faron, was heavily favored by their family. It seem obvious that everyone concluded that Theo wasn’t as brilliant as Xan that everyone concluded that Theo wasn’t as brilliant as Xan and when Theo got into the better school and achieved and when Theo got into the better school and achieved better grades, everyone was surprised at Theo’s better grades, everyone was surprised at Theo’s accomplishments but acknowledged that Xan could have accomplishments but acknowledged that Xan could have done better if he had worked harder. Another perfect done better if he had worked harder. Another perfect example of ill-advised expectations of individuals whose example of ill-advised expectations of individuals whose predictions contradict the final result.predictions contradict the final result.

Third QuoteThird Quote Quote: Theo: “Anyway, you only test healthy, selected males. Quote: Theo: “Anyway, you only test healthy, selected males.

What about the others?”What about the others?”Xan: “If they can breed, goodluck to them, but while there Xan: “If they can breed, goodluck to them, but while there are limited facilities for testing, let’s keep it for the are limited facilities for testing, let’s keep it for the physically and more morally fit.” (Page 102.)physically and more morally fit.” (Page 102.)

Being unable to reproduce for over thirty years is the Being unable to reproduce for over thirty years is the indisputable crisis word wide. And yet, Xan is only allowing indisputable crisis word wide. And yet, Xan is only allowing a selected group of males to be test. The reasoning? a selected group of males to be test. The reasoning?

Quote: Xan: “But why breed from the stupid, the feckless, the Quote: Xan: “But why breed from the stupid, the feckless, the violent?” (Page 102.)violent?” (Page 102.)

The failure to reproduce is the number one problem in the The failure to reproduce is the number one problem in the world, but Xan won’t test a certain group of people because world, but Xan won’t test a certain group of people because they do not meet his personal standards. By only limiting they do not meet his personal standards. By only limiting testing to a selected group, the possibility of finding sperm testing to a selected group, the possibility of finding sperm that can reproduce decreases, and so does the hope of being that can reproduce decreases, and so does the hope of being able to continue the human race. It’s like the old saying, able to continue the human race. It’s like the old saying, “beggars can’t be choosers”, everyone desperately wants to “beggars can’t be choosers”, everyone desperately wants to save the human race, but Xan only wants the “healthy, save the human race, but Xan only wants the “healthy, morally fit” humans to come into existence. morally fit” humans to come into existence.

Third Quote ContinuedThird Quote Continued

►Quote: “Luke was exempt from testing. Quote: “Luke was exempt from testing. He had mild epilepsy as a child. Like He had mild epilepsy as a child. Like Julian, Luke was a reject.”Julian, Luke was a reject.”

Society had chosen not to test certain Society had chosen not to test certain people, and one of the was exempted people, and one of the was exempted from testing actually had the ability to from testing actually had the ability to reproduce. Instantly, the reject reproduce. Instantly, the reject became the savior of the human race. became the savior of the human race.

Fourth QuoteFourth Quote Quote: “Theo asked: Do you often go back to Quote: “Theo asked: Do you often go back to

Woolcombe? Woolcombe?

That living mausoleum? That place appalls me. I That living mausoleum? That place appalls me. I haven’t been back for years.” Page (103).haven’t been back for years.” Page (103).

Quote: “But it was that remembered shout in his ears Quote: “But it was that remembered shout in his ears that he shot Xan through the heart.” Page (238). (In that he shot Xan through the heart.” Page (238). (In previously lines, it showed Xan miss fire at Theo, then previously lines, it showed Xan miss fire at Theo, then Theo fired back at Xan. Theo’s shot went through Xan’s Theo fired back at Xan. Theo’s shot went through Xan’s heart. And of all places, the setting, Woolcombe)heart. And of all places, the setting, Woolcombe)

Explanation on next page.Explanation on next page.

Fourth Quote ContinuedFourth Quote Continued

Woolcombe, the place where Xan grew up, played Woolcombe, the place where Xan grew up, played an interesting role in the movie. Not only is it an interesting role in the movie. Not only is it were Xan was born, but it is where he died as were Xan was born, but it is where he died as well. In addition, it’s where Theo discovered his well. In addition, it’s where Theo discovered his gun skills were far superior to Xan’s, both when gun skills were far superior to Xan’s, both when they were kids and when it was life and death.they were kids and when it was life and death.

Quote: “I was better than Xan both with gun and Quote: “I was better than Xan both with gun and pistol” (Page 15). The setting was in Xan’s house pistol” (Page 15). The setting was in Xan’s house in Woolcombe during the summer break as young in Woolcombe during the summer break as young teenagers. teenagers.

Fifth QuoteFifth Quote Quote: Xan: “She may be the most important Quote: Xan: “She may be the most important

person in the world but she isn’t the Virgin Mary. person in the world but she isn’t the Virgin Mary. The child she is carrying is still the child of a The child she is carrying is still the child of a whore” (Page 238).whore” (Page 238).

Even though she is the first person to give birth to a Even though she is the first person to give birth to a baby in over thirty years, and is an essential part baby in over thirty years, and is an essential part of saving the human race, she is still looked down of saving the human race, she is still looked down upon by society. Julian, being a reject like the upon by society. Julian, being a reject like the father of child, Luke, was not seen fit to be able to father of child, Luke, was not seen fit to be able to reproduce. And yet, the “rejects” were the only reproduce. And yet, the “rejects” were the only ones able to reproduce and began to save the ones able to reproduce and began to save the human race.human race.

Recommendation Recommendation

The Children of Men, by: PD JamesThe Children of Men, by: PD JamesAccording to Sean Pettus…According to Sean Pettus…

““Absolutely riveting, never a dull moment.”Absolutely riveting, never a dull moment.”““Gripping to the mind, you never want to put it down.”Gripping to the mind, you never want to put it down.”““One of the best thrillers of our time. One of PD James’ One of the best thrillers of our time. One of PD James’

finest work”finest work”

This particular novel has turned out to be one of my This particular novel has turned out to be one of my personal favorites. Although it starts off slow, it’s a personal favorites. Although it starts off slow, it’s a

very exciting book. PD James vividly depicts very exciting book. PD James vividly depicts everything in her novel, it’s remarkable. I would everything in her novel, it’s remarkable. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys suspenseful recommend to anyone who enjoys suspenseful

thrillers, and enjoys some political aspects. It reminded thrillers, and enjoys some political aspects. It reminded me of the movie “V for Vendetta”, a very political plot. me of the movie “V for Vendetta”, a very political plot.

Bottom line: 5/5 stars, one of the best ever.Bottom line: 5/5 stars, one of the best ever.

The End.The End.