38 pages 1 hour read

P. D. James

The Children of Men

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1992

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Book 1, Chapters 13-19

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Book 1: “Omega, January-March 2021”

Book 1, Chapter 13 Summary

As Xan and Theo walk in the park, Theo asks why Xan does the job. Xan can’t stand seeing someone do something badly if he thinks he can do it well. But the main reason he serves as Warden is that he is never bored.

Xan wonders who is behind Theo’s visit, sensing that Theo would have not brought him these concerns on his own. Theo denies any outsider involvement. They talk about the degrading nature compulsory semen testing and the pornography centers supplied by the State to keep people sexually interested. Xan thinks it is necessary for people to continue having sex on the off chance that someone succeeds in a pregnancy.

Xan asks what they would do if they were the last two men. Theo says they would drink, talk about great historical figures, and then shoot themselves. When they separate, Xan tells Theo to ask his friends to be careful. Xan will do what he must, and he cannot afford to be merciful.

Book 1, Chapter 14 Summary

At the museum, Theo looks at Victorian art and then at dinosaurs, thinking that they lasted longer than humans will. When he meets with Julian, he tells her that his visit with Xan was futile.

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