Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Childhood’s End, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Science and Mysticism
Benevolent Dictatorship and Freedom
Utopia and Creative Apathy
Individuality, Globalization, and Progress
The Fate of Humanity
Summary
Analysis
Humanity continues to enjoy utopia, despite the fact that, without crises and crime, life is rather less eventful. People work much less, though now that the mundane tasks have been taken over by automated processes, the work that is left to humans is considerably more engaging. All armed forces have been disbanded, adding significant wealth into the economy. Despite all the leisure, very few people are too slothful or restless. Most people own two homes on different continents and keep themselves busy with entertainment and sports. Even so, amidst all the benefits and ways to occupy one’s time, the question quietly persisted: “Where do we go from here?”
Although utopia is pleasant, humanity is beginning to feel the effects of nihilism. This boredom and growing restlessness indicate the major entrance of the theme of utopia not being an ideal state for human growth and progress, as well as setting the stage for the start of Jan’s journey in the next chapter. His (considerably dangerous) adventure is a response to boredom, to restlessness, and a defiance of utopia itself.
Themes
