The Children of Men: Chapter 14 Summary & Analysis

Theo returns to the Pitt Rivers museum in Oxford, the designated meeting-place for him and for Julian. While waiting for her to arrive, Theo takes a look through the exhibits, which contain artifacts culled from all over the world. He marvels at the unlikely but undeniable links between different people, different countries, and different eras.

Julian arrives and, without even greeting Theo, asks if he’s met with Xan yet. Theo explains that he saw the Council, then spoke with Xan alone, but has done “no good” for her group’s cause, and may even have “done some harm” since Xan knew that Theo’s visit was not unprompted. Julian asks whether Xan was amenable to any of the group’s demands, and Theo tells her that it seems very unlikely. Julian says that the group will have to continue to “do what they can.” Theo protests, explaining that all the group can “do” is get themselves killed or sent to the Isle of Man. 

Julian wonders aloud whether a group getting themselves sent to the colony intentionally could change things from the inside, but Theo tells her that the idea is a “folly.” He urges her not to “waste her life on a futile cause”—things will be over soon enough. Julian insists that she wants humanity to die “as human beings, not devils,” and bids Theo farewell.

Theo, making “one more effort,” tells Julian again how poorly equipped the group is—they are all motivated by different things, and have no money, influence, or backing. He warns her of getting sucked into Rolf’s grab at ambition. Julian tells Theo that she cannot leave Rolf, and that she is not just with the group because she is with her husband. She says that God wants her to do something, and when Theo mocks that belief, she thanks him for his help and tells him goodbye.

Theo worries that, if Julian is caught, Xan will take action against her. He worries, too, that he has misjudged his “intelligent, charming” cousin, not wanting to believe that Xan is an evil person.