Themes in Children of Men: Literary Analysis Essay

Introduction

Theo Faron, an author, and writer have presented various themes to the Children of men. The novel Children of Men, written by a British author PD James describes the human race as an incapable of reproduction. Theo Faron is one of the volunteering leaders who ought to protect a pregnant young girl who should have been the last hope of mankind. The only option Theo has is to smuggle the girl out of the country and take her to a country where she gets a secretive human project. Theo Faron is the hero in the entire movie where he acts as a disillusioned and apathetic former political activist. However, he gave this up when his son died. For this reason, it would be difficult to make up a scene that revolved around a societal challenge. In that case, it would be easier placing the best focus on a set group of characters. As a result, the societal problem becomes reduced in the sense that the same could be solved by individual persons. Theo Faron has presented themes regarding a representation of history, memory and mythology, the theme of renewal, redemption, action, and hope, and the theme of renewal.

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Theo presents the theme of renewal by killing Xan and healing Kee. It is until he lost his hope for mankind that he saved the little pregnant girl. It is after this event that he starts a perilous journey which he believes should stir the hope, which was extinct at that time. Kee, who is the last mother to a baby on earth, carries her baby in an era that she has been infertile for at least 18 years. The young woman starts an aura of youth and life in a hopeless and dark globe. However, Kee tends to bear with the situation prevailing in her life, the human race. According to her, she would be considered the best asset to possess. He would showcase certain institutions such as growing up, living, progression, maintaining a good personality u and interests. As soon as Theo's wife leaves him, he realizes that he is unable to bring them to separate mirrors regarding the failure to undertake real actions as guided by the face of a non-existent future.

Theo presents the theme of redemption, action, and hope. Theo is established as an everyman as he presents himself as a microcosm of the reducing society around him. As soon as he loses his personal stake in the future, he gives up as he tries to implement the same. And since he retired from being a political activist, civilization across the world starts to crumble. However, Theo presents himself as an extremist either way. He is that person who does not care until he is directly affected by a situation. He notes that "We are outraged and demoralized less by the impending end of our species, less even by our inability to prevent it, than by our failure to discover the cause" (Phillpotts). Theo was, however, presented by a situation where he would decide to either care about the current state of the world or not. If he cared about the current affairs, he would be as good as dead. If he continued to fight for a more hopeful future he would be putting himself at risk. This risk does not come physically just as shown in the scene. He would also experience an emotional risk if he drops his cynical exterior. This conflict resonates with him and the roles he must be accomplished for the world. The allusions to Christianity are presented in various aspects of the novel. One is towards the end of the novel when Theo tends to christen the baby. This forms a baseline that Julian should have just resurrected his long-lost faith. In chapter 14, Theo quotes that there are two reasons for abiding by the law presented by Christ. "One is that you have a yearning for martyrdom whereas the second reason is more ignoble and Xan would understand it very well hence, If you did succeed, what an intoxication of power" (Phillpotts). Theo remembers various past events. He notes that "History, which interprets the past to understand and confront the future, is the least rewarding discipline for a dying species" (Phillpotts) Theo brings in old and bad memories as soon as he presents his front end Jasper at risk. He just makes sure that he is at a later hope with the possibility of a failure, presenting a misplacement of his hopes. The violence presented in the world is just unexpected and shocking to many, including Theo. He is affected by the ringing of his ears, just as other characters are. Theo is confidence of the whole world. At the start of the scene, there is so little to offer. In that case, he has one line of dialogue that includes ordering some coffee. In doing this, there is a presentation of the confidence with the unfamiliar world, where tension is created and a protagonist is introduced along with his internal and external conflicts. When Theo joins up with the five fishes, he, however, starts to be arrogant and showcases his superpowers, where he starts to disparage most of the idealistic beliefs. As time goes by, Theo begins to soften and starts opening up especially as he does to Julian. His interests grow to be romantic love as shown to Julian. He begins to realize that he has been boarding a boring routine hence, leaves it behind and focuses on offering help to Julian. As the novel comes to an end, he starts to be awakened by the interest for life and hence, starts to form close relationships that elude him to his whole life. As he continues to transform, he becomes positive towards life, becomes less aloof and begins to have ambition and desire to be a growing type of leader. For this reason, he starts to butt his head with Rolf over leadership of the five fishes, and this is what leads him to kill Xan, who has been fighting for the same position in England. Theo noted that "I was his cousin, I was wished on him, I was there. I lifted from him, an only child, the burden of parental concern. From his boyhood, he couldn't tolerate questions, curiosity, and interference in his life. I sympathized with that; I was very much the same" (Phillpotts). Even though he learns to be selfless, he rejects the offer of taking off Xan's ring and towards the end of the Phillpotts Nobel; Theo becomes vulnerable to the addictive force of power.

Conclusion

PD James' novel is a representation of the themes in a real-life situation. The themes of history, memory, and mythology, the theme of renewal, redemption, action and hope, and the theme of renewal are well presented in the scene. The novel is a transparent representation of the trends of the world.

References

Phillpotts, Eden. Children of Men. Macmillan, 1928.