Childhood’s End Character Analysis

Karellen

Karellen is the leader of the Overlords and the “Supervisor” of Earth. He forms an affectionate relationship with Stormgren over the course of their weekly meetings, and even seems fond of Jan, despite the… read analysis of Karellen

Jan Rodricks

Jan is Maia’s brother and Rupert’s brother-in-law. Jan, a true scientist, represents the humanistic spirit of science and discovery. While much of humanity has lost its interest in adventure or new frontiers, Jan… read analysis of Jan Rodricks

Rikki Stormgren

Stormgren is the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the only liaison between the Overlords and humanity during the first years of the Overlords’ occupation of Earth. He meets weekly with the Overlord Karellen and… read analysis of Rikki Stormgren

George Greggson

George is Jean’s lover and later spouse, as well as the father of Jeffrey and Jennifer. George is a theater director who moves his family to New Athens so that he can further… read analysis of George Greggson

Jean Morrel

Jeanis George’s lover and later spouse, as well as the mother of Jeffrey and Jennifer, the first children to display symptoms of the coming of the Overmind. Jean has long had a… read analysis of Jean Morrel

Jeffrey Greggson

Jeffrey is the son of George and Jean and the first human to start showing signs of Total Breakthrough, wherein he begins developing psychic abilities brought on by the approach of the Overmind. Knowing… read analysis of Jeffrey Greggson

Charles Yan Sen

Sen is a “ironic but fundamentally cheerful” philosopher and the current council chairman of New Athens. When the Inspector visits the colony, Sen spends several days showing him around and asking him questions, though… read analysis of Charles Yan Sen

Professor Sullivan

Professor Sullivan is a marine scientist and a friend of Rupert’s whom Jan convinces to help him stow away aboard an Overlord ship. Professor Sullivan, like Jan, is one of the few remaining true… read analysis of Professor Sullivan

Rashaverak

Rashaverak is an Overlord who first identifies Jean as a person of interest regarding the coming of the Overmind. At Rupert’s party, when Jean faints at the Ouija board, Rashaverak realizes that she… read analysis of Rashaverak

Rupert Boyce

An eccentric millionaire and caretaker of a wildlife preserve in Africa, Rupert has a hobbyist’s interest in the paranormal and has gathered the world’s largest collection of books on paranormal activity. He has given the… read analysis of Rupert Boyce

Thanthalteresco / “The Inspector”

The Inspector is an Overlord who travels to New Athens under the pretense of inspecting the colony, but is actually there to observe Jeffrey and Jennifer and gather any data he can, since they are… read analysis of Thanthalteresco / “The Inspector”

Vindarten

Vindarten is an Overlord who accompanies Jan for the few weeks that he spends on the Overlords’ planet. Vindarten is the only Overlord that can be found who can speak English, so Jan never leaves… read analysis of Vindarten

Alexander Wainwright

Wainwright is a clergyman and leader of the Freedom League. He meets with Stormgren to petition the formation of the World Federation and to express his disdain for the Overlords’ secrecy and governance… read analysis of Alexander Wainwright

Jennifer Anne Greggson

George and Jean’s infant daughter, Jennifer alsodevelops latent psychic powers as the Overmind approaches. Although her change starts after Jeffrey’s, it happens much faster and develops more powerfully because she is younger and… read analysis of Jennifer Anne Greggson

Joe

Joe is an affable Polish immigrant who kidnaps Stormgren on behalf of the resistance movement. Stormgren realizes that Joe is a natural fighter, but that he has not given much consideration to the causes that… read analysis of Joe

The Blind Welshman

The leader of the fringe element of the Freedom League that kidnaps Stormgren, the Welshman gives Stormgren the idea of smuggling an observation device into the meeting room with Karellen.The Welshman’s primary objection… read analysis of The Blind Welshman

Minor Characters

Pieter Van Ryberg

Stormgren’s assistant, Van Rybergbecomes the acting Secretary-General of the United Nations while Stormgren is held hostage by the resistance movement. When Stormgren is present, Van Ryberg is constantly pitching far-fetched conspiracy theories about the true nature of Karellen.

Pierre Duval

A French physicist and old friend of Stormgren,Duval devises the scheme that Stormgren uses to catch a glimpse of Karellen, and designs and provides the equipment that enables the plot. However, Stormgren never tells Duval what he sees.

Maia Boyce

Maia is Jan’s sister and the latest in Rupert’s line of successive wives.

Childhood’s End

Arthur C. Clarke

Childhood’s End Characters