THE CHILDREN OF MEN
P.D.James
Discussion questions:
1. Which characteristics define Modernism and Post-Modernism? Does this story fit either definition?
2. Does James' vision of a future dystopia ring true? Are we already there?
3. What does Science, as religion, demand in the way of sacrifice? What happens when Science is unmasked as a false god (in failing to cure infertility)?
4. What can we say about the five demands? Are they reasonable? Well ordered? Are they the products of despair or hope?
5. Does the author acurately assess the psychological, biological, social and religious consequences of infertility? Are there any flaws in her argument?
6. Do voluntary contraception and involuntary infertility have the same consequences on either the individual or population level? Is fertility as important to men as it is to women?
7. How necessary is population control to the power of the State?
8. Is contraception dehumanizing? Is contraception necessarily followed by impotency? The author mentions porn shops as the government's answer to lack of sexual desire. What about anti-depressants (for women) and Viagra?
9. A generation ago a man would have been filled with shame to publicly acknowledge his impotency, whereas today he'll proudly be a poster boy for Viagra. What has changed mens' fundamental perception of themselves and their role in society?
Of Interest:
