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
Sullivan is an excellent scientist who has made many discoveries, but he is aware that none of them have been sufficiently groundbreaking to leave him a history-making legacy. Though he initially refuses to commit to Jan’s plan because of the consequences it could have, he later sends word that he will help. Jan himself has brief second thoughts, but he realizes that he would always be haunted by the missed opportunity if he did not follow through.
Again, Sullivan is quite unique among humanity in his desire to make history, since most human beings have been content to enjoy themselves at their leisure. His character operates as counterpoint to the general safety and banality of humanity in utopia. Rather than enjoy the comforts of modernity, Sullivan explores the cold, dark, inhospitable oceans.
Themes
Putting his affairs in order, Jan sends a letter to Maia detailing his plan and saying goodbye. He tells her that, using the coordinates that came from the Ouija board at Rupert’s party, he has discovered the location of the Overlords’ homeworld. He will conceal himself in a secret compartment inside Sullivan’s sperm whale and stow away aboard the Overlords’ ship.
Although Jan and Maia are siblings, and although they were at the same party, never once are they shown interacting throughout the course of the entire novel, indicating that they do not have a close relationship.
Themes
Jan has calculated the journey will take 40 Earth-years, but since they will be traveling at near-light speed, he will only age a couple of months in the journey due to Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. He will use a tranquilizer to put himself to sleep for the duration of the voyage, and when he wakes up, the Overlords may do with him what they decide is best, though he expects they will send him back to Earth on the next supply ship. At the very least, he will see some of their world, and so he will bring a camera and film
Since, in the duration of the trip, 40 years will have passed on Earth, if Jan returns, the soonest he could be back to Earth would be 80 years after his departure, though he will have aged less than a year. Everyone he has ever known will be long dead, meaning that even if he survives, he will have sacrificed everything and lost everyone he ever knew. This cements Jan’s character as a humanistic hero, if not a somewhat reckless or even foolish one.
Themes
Jan ends his letter pronouncing that he and Maia were never close, and so he imagines that she will not be bereft. Should he make it back, she will be gone, but he looks forward to meeting her grandchildren.
Jan does not have close relationship with his family, his love interest has rejected him, and he is never shown to have any friends aside from Sullivan as they prepare for the journey. Thus, Jan has comparatively little to lose, making him a perfect candidate for what could be a suicidal quest.
Themes
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