The Reality of an Unnerving Dream: Analyzing Theodore Faron’s Nightmares within PD James’ The Children of Men Anonymous College

The Children of Men by PD James depicts the life of Theodore “Theo” Faron alongside his five acquaintances Julian, Miriam, Rolf, Gascoigne, and Luke as they embark on a harrowing mission to privately birth the child that will likely become the future of all mankind. In two distinct instances James uses nightmares that visit Theo in order to symbolize a variety of emotions, as well as development within Theo’s rapidly changing life. Initially, as Theo’s late father stands ominously at the foot of his bed, the manifestation of nightmare derives from feelings of regret and loneliness due to a multitude of factors. Although this original nightmare eventually fades away, a new nightmare plagues Theo after a multitude of occurrences- leading to the beginning of his journey with the group of five acquaintances, known as the Five Fishes- begin to trouble him. This second nightmare again symbolizes a multitude of Theo’s emotions, but further portrays development within Theo’s life as related to the changing nightmare, as well as exposes James’ deliberate choice of each nightmares timing. In this case, rather than his father haunting his slumber it is Luke portentously looming in front of Theo. While the initial nightmare stems from...