The Children Of Men Marxist Analysis

1247 Words3 Pages

Famous singer Michael Jackson once said, “I see God in the face of children and if someone announced there were no more children on earth, I would jump off the balcony”. Set in and around a dystopian London fractious, The Children of Men by P.D. James, follows the unexpected discovery of a lone pregnant woman and the desperate journey to deliver her to safety and restore faith for a future beyond those presently on Earth. It is a commonly held belief that The Children of Men is a dystopian story that is about all human males becoming sterile and no child ever being born again. At first glance it seems to be true, as the main character explains his life as being part of the last generation ever to live, the Omega’s. However, when taking a closer …show more content…

First and foremost, the Warden of England, Xan, is not willing to let anyone take his place in power. During the group's first gathering with Theo, Rolf mentions, “The Warden was elected when he first took power, but that was fifteen years ago. He hasn’t called an election since. He claims to rule by the people’s will, but what he is is a despot and a tyrant” (James 57). According to Rolf, Xan is acting like more of a dictator rather than a proper ruler. To maintain his influence in England, Xan is not offering any opportunities for anyone to take his position. Not only is the Warden of England's ways of gaining power revealed, it is also portrayed how the Omegas gain a considerable amount of appreciation and desire. During the opening of this novel, Theo clarifies all events in the past that have lead up to the present day. He claims, “The children born in the year 1995 are called the Omegas. No generation has been more studied, more examined, more agonized over, more valued or more indulged. [...] Many are also cruel, arrogant and violent, and this has been found to be true of Omegas all over the world” (James 10). This statement implies that the Omegas embody characteristics of the bourgeoisie that represent a higher class. The Omegas are treated as being the end of the future. They disregard the proletariats by …show more content…

James through a Marxist lens, many noticeable aspects are acknowledged. For instance, a Marxist view of this novel unfolds the improper distribution of affluences. The deceptions used by the bourgeoisie to maintain their position of privilege is another observable aspect that is noticed through a Marxist lens. Lastly, it is proven that class determines the well being of an individual when examining The Children of Men through a Marxist theory. After analyzing this novel, it is learned that no matter how advance mankind moves forward in society, wealth is a key component to living a life in

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