Childhood's End

The primary and central theme of Childhood’s End is the tension between individualism and collectivism. This echoes the tensions of the Cold War and the conflict between American individualism and Soviet collectivism. The apparent destiny of humanity is to become a collective, unified whole, with one mind unified with an even higher species: the Overmind. In service of this end, the Overlords impose various collectivist values on humanity. Although many humans accept the loss of individual autonomy in exchange for advanced technology, global peace, and a much higher quality of life, there are several examples that suggest human nature is inherently individualist. Whether that individualism is a strength or weakness of humanity depends on one’s perspective. The Overlords, who are themselves permanently stuck as individuals while helping other species transform, view individualism as a drawback. The Freedom League and the residents of New Athens see an inherent threat to human nature in collectivism. Because the narration never clearly weighs in on whether the Overmind is the miraculous destiny of humanity or its destruction, only the reader can decide whether individual achievement or collective advancement is the highest good.

The existence of the Freedom League shows that human beings inherently resist even seemingly benevolent external force.