Joe Character Analysis in Childhood’s End

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 he fights for; he merely enjoys the thrill and the sense of purpose. Hearing that Stormgren is a skilled poker player, Joe buys a pack of cards and spends the days of Stormgren’s confinement playing poker with him, beating Stormgren out of over one hundred dollars.

Joe Character Timeline in Childhood’s End

The timeline below shows where the character Joe appears in Childhood’s End. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Benevolent Dictatorship and Freedom Theme Icon

...clothes from Stormgren’s own house and invites him to dine. The stranger introduces himself as Joe. (full context)

Once Stormgren has dressed, Joe leads him down a corridor carved from rock. They seem to be in an abandoned... (full context)

They arrive at a room where two other men are sitting around a table. Joe tells Stormgren that Wainwright had nothing to do with the kidnapping, and then explains in... (full context)

Joe and his comrades confirm to Stormgren that they are part of a movement fighting for... (full context)

Stormgren spends the days playing poker and analyzing his captors. It seems that Joe is a committed man but not one who has given much thought to the causes... (full context)

...a room where the leaders of the movement, obviously far more powerful and intelligent than Joe, are waiting for him, led by a Welshman. Stormgren inquires what his ransom will be,... (full context)