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
Rupert Boyce has sent invitations for a grand party, and people are traveling from all over the world to come. George Greggson and Jean Morrel have flown in from Alaska and they land in the African heat. A 12-foot hologram of Rupert appears next to their vehicle (imaging technology that normally only the Overlords possess) and asks what they want to drink. George and Jean, ill-humored, walk to Rupert’s house, wondering how he could have an Overlord device. George surmises he must use it to wander about the African wilderness from the comfort of his home.
This is introduction of George and Jean, both of whom will replace Stormgren as main characters. Unsurprisingly, despite the technological wonders that allow them to comfortably fly across the globe in a few hours, just to attend a party, they are still ill-humored. Even utopia, all the comfort in the world, cannot cure a sour attitude.
Themes
George and Jean reach the house, meeting Rupert’s beautiful new wife—he has had several already—Maia. George is quite distracted by her, irritating Jean, though she seems resigned to it. They enter the house, which is packed with guests, most of whom George and Jean do not know.
Due to the loosened sexual mores of utopia, social structures seem to be somewhat less firm. Rupert’s many wives and George’s obvious interest in newly-married Maia both suggest that the family unit has loosened.
Themes
George and Jean decide to explore Rupert’s house, which is massive and elaborate. Jean comments that Rupert’s ex-wife would have loved the place. They find the library, containing 15,000 books on paranormal events and experiences. George and Jean both notice a faint and odd smell in the library, but they are unable to place it. Jean gasps as she realizes it is an Overlord, sitting in Rupert’s library and reading his books incredibly quickly.
An Overlord, symbolic of science and technology, sitting amidst a library of paranormal and mystical experiences is an odd sight indeed, marking a tonal shift from the story’s first act, which focused largely on power, to a focus on mysticism.
Themes
The Overlord introduces himself as Rashaverak and continues reading, making small talk with George as he does so and explaining that he has been reading through Rupert’s entire collection. George and Jean are surprised that Rupert has any association with the Overlords, since this kind of mingling is still quite rare. Rupert calls to them on an intercom to come back down to the party. Rashaverak accompanies them down, and Rupert calls him “Rashy,” summoning him to meet more newly-arrived guests.
The Overlord’s interest in books about paranormal activity seems discordant—the paragons of science and rationality taking an interest in ghost stories and tales of psychic power. This is the first clue that the Overlords’ take the possibility of paranormal happenings serious to some degree (as did Clarke), bridging the divide between science and mysticism. However, the reasons for this will not be revealed for quite some time.
Themes
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George and Jean separate and mingle with the other party-goers, most of whom are celebrities of some sort. George accosts Rupert, questioning him about the Overlord. Rupert explains that Rashaverak has come to see his library of paranormal writings, odd though it seems that such a scientific race should have any interest in it. Rupert is called back to the other guests, and George makes his way up to the roof while Jean dances with the other party-goers. On the roof, he meets Jan Rodricks, Maia’s brother. They chat briefly, but George sees that Jan wants to be alone and takes his leave.
Jan is introduced into the story by a brief and awkward interaction with George. The contrast between George and Jan is considerable: George is quite happy to exist in utopia, under the rule of the Overlords and submitting to their boundaries. He does not want anything to change or be different. Though Jan’s character will not be fleshed out until the next chapter, George’s depiction as a mostly ordinary, rather dull man sets a backdrop for Jan to contrast against.
Themes
