Children Of Men Dystopian Society
In exploring the perspective that ‘the most shocking aspect of the dystopian novel or film is the realisation that the future is contingent on the present, and can be affected by something we do or don’t do now’ (Diane Johnson, 2014), it becomes apparent that the reflection that the dystopian genre presents on the future consequences as a result of our current actions in the modern society is significant and deeply revelatory in nature. My personal reading of dystopian novel Children of Men by P. D. James (1992) which is split into ‘Book One – Omega’ and ‘Book Two – Alpha’, provides an insightful interpretation of the alleged ‘future’ in 2021 where the human race comes to terms with their inability for reproduction. Through exploring the problematic
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In James’s Children of Men, a reminiscent view of the future is portrayed through exploring the historical context of the 20th century and the effective characterisation of the protagonist, Theodore Faron, who is a historian and lecturer at the University of Oxford. Theodore represents the past and it is through his predominant first person narration and his personal diary entries that the juxtaposition between the past and future events are portrayed effectively. The lexical chain “...hadn’t since the end of the Cold War, producing new heroes, new villains, new mythologies” …show more content…
Their response to this calamity is portrayed through the simile, “like a lecherous stud suddenly stricken with impotence we are humiliated at the very heart of our faith in ourselves” signifying the incapability of technology and science to prevent the imminent end of the human race (Nancy Taylor, 1999). Consequently, the symbolism of infertility for the absence of hope for the future in that dystopian realm becomes apparent. This is reflective of the many religious and cultural societies today, especially in Asia, where there has always been a prevailing custom for the parents to work hard in order to provide higher standards of living for the future generations. Without the presence of future generations, these certain communities would lose their sense of purpose and fall into a state of personal ennui. This enhances the view that “our present world is utopia compared to a future wrecked by science” (Diane Johnson, 2014). The cumulative listing “…storing our books and manuscripts, the great paintings, the musical scores and instruments, the artefacts” reflect and mocks the future re-enactment of discovery mankind has
In James’s Children of Men, a reminiscent view of the future is portrayed through exploring the historical context of the 20th century and the effective characterisation of the protagonist, Theodore Faron, who is a historian and lecturer at the University of Oxford. Theodore represents the past and it is through his predominant first person narration and his personal diary entries that the juxtaposition between the past and future events are portrayed effectively. The lexical chain “...hadn’t since the end of the Cold War, producing new heroes, new villains, new mythologies” …show more content…
Their response to this calamity is portrayed through the simile, “like a lecherous stud suddenly stricken with impotence we are humiliated at the very heart of our faith in ourselves” signifying the incapability of technology and science to prevent the imminent end of the human race (Nancy Taylor, 1999). Consequently, the symbolism of infertility for the absence of hope for the future in that dystopian realm becomes apparent. This is reflective of the many religious and cultural societies today, especially in Asia, where there has always been a prevailing custom for the parents to work hard in order to provide higher standards of living for the future generations. Without the presence of future generations, these certain communities would lose their sense of purpose and fall into a state of personal ennui. This enhances the view that “our present world is utopia compared to a future wrecked by science” (Diane Johnson, 2014). The cumulative listing “…storing our books and manuscripts, the great paintings, the musical scores and instruments, the artefacts” reflect and mocks the future re-enactment of discovery mankind has