The leader of The Five Fishes, an engineer in the electricity-supply industry, and Julian’s husband, Rolf has a “dark masculinity” about him and an impatient, jealous, and ambitious personality. He does not particularly like or trust Theo, nor does Theo like or trust him. Theo sees Rolf as power-hungry, and believes that Rolf is actually motivated by a desire to usurp Xan’s “absolute power for himself” rather than to promote justice, compassion, or moral indignation like the rest of The Five Fishes. Rolf is the one who concocts the plan to find a safehouse for Julian in the wake of Gascoigne’s capture by the State Security Police, though he does not remain with The Five Fishes for the entirety of their journey. Once he discovers that Luke is the father of Julian’s child, he not only abandons the group but goes to London to turn them in to Xan in hopes of accruing favor for himself. Rolf’s actions ultimately show that Theo’s assessment of him was accurate—he was motivated not by ideals, but by lust for power.
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Rolf Character Timeline in The Children of Men
The timeline below shows where the character Rolf appears in The Children of Men. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 6
...and a former Council member, and that two members of her group—Luke, a priest, and Rolf, her husband and the group’s leader—suggested she approach Theo and ask him to meet with...
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Chapter 8
...The man comes toward Theo, and the two face each other “like adversaries.” This man, Rolf, is handsome, young enough to have missed being an Omega by just a few years....
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...his forties, has a “pale, sensitive face,” and his “frailty [is] in stark contrast to Rolf’s dark masculinity.”
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...Council in the first place. Theo asks the group if they’re a religious one, which Rolf vehemently denies. Miriam explains that while Luke and Julian are Christians, their group only meets...
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Theo asks Rolf why the group doesn’t try to go before the Warden and the Council themselves. Rolf...
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Rolf accuses Theo of having come to meet with the group despite having no intention of...
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Chapter 14
...things, and have no money, influence, or backing. He warns her of getting sucked into Rolf’s grab at ambition. Julian tells Theo that she cannot leave Rolf, and that she is...
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Chapter 20
...is Luke pointing at him, and Theo is not in bed but in a car. Rolf pounds on the windows of the car and screams “You’ve killed Julian!” over and over.
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Chapter 21
Miriam and Rolf both agree that Julian should have the baby on her own, away from the Council’s...
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Theo asks the group what their plan is. Rolf states that they want to find an empty cottage or shelter somewhere remote where Julian...
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Chapter 22
...At the car, after one last attempt to change Julian’s mind, Theo agrees to drive. Rolf reminds Theo that he is only with the group “because [being] the Warden’s cousin might...
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Rolf instructs Theo to drive over the border and into Wales. He outlines a plan to...
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...linens to provide Julian with a comfortable birthing bed. Miriam tells Theo not to let Rolf or Julian know that he has a gun. Once outside, Theo and Miriam lock up...
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Chapter 23
...herself. On one of the stops, the group all gets out to stretch their legs. Rolf confronts Theo, and tells him that their “expedition” cannot have “two leaders.” Rolf insists that...
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Rolf offers to let Theo serve as his personal adviser when Rolf, as the father of...
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Theo restrains himself from lashing out and telling Rolf that once Xan sees Rolf as a threat, the government will extract his sperm to...
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Chapter 24
Rolf drives quickly and recklessly, and soon punctures a tire. The group gets the car off...
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Chapter 25
...the ground. Tea is brewing, and Julian and Luke are off in the woods praying. Rolf asks Theo what he believes in. Theo tells him he believes nothing. Rolf admits to...
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...from the car, praying at a makeshift altar. Theo returns to the car, and tells Rolf that Luke and Julian appear to be nearly done. Theo wonders about the relationship between...
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Chapter 26
...group’s hours spent dozing, talking, and playing games with sticks and stones. Even the hot-tempered Rolf is behaving.
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As night falls, the group prepares to set out again—Rolf has repaired the tire. Theo writes that he has “no need” of his diary any...
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Chapter 27
...even if they appeal to the Omega’s humanity by pointing out Julian’s pregnancy. Theo tells Rolf that when the Omegas inevitably crack up the car and force the group out, Rolf...
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...rest of the group join their dance. When one of the Omegas reaches for Julian, Rolf grabs her and they make a run for it. They must climb over a low...
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While the Omegas are distracted with the car, Theo and Rolf go for Luke’s body, which has been battered and torn beyond recognition. They bring it...
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...Julian’s unusual calmness, which Miriam attributes to her faith in God, and they wonder whether Rolf too will be able to calm himself. Miriam goes off to attend to Rolf, while...
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Rolf returns to the group, and tells them that they must bury Luke at first light....
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Chapter 28
At daylight, Rolf, having left the group to explore their surroundings, announces that they cannot stay where they...
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Once the service is over, Rolf announces that he is going to get some rest. Tonight, he says, the group will...
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Chapter 29
...is early evening when Theo wakes up. Julian stands over him, and tells him that Rolf has left the group for good. Theo insists that Rolf won’t betray them, but Julian...
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Chapter 31
...the night. Theo switches off the radio, unable to bear his guilt. Miriam deduces that Rolf has reached Xan, but states that their group’s “one comfort” is that he has no...
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