Childhood’s End: Childhood’s End: The Planets Bend Between UsThe Planets Bend Between Us

FeracoFeraco

Myth to Science FictionMyth to Science Fiction

8 January 20158 January 2015

I I knowknow you would have been you would have been happy, if you could have watched us happy, if you could have watched us now; you would have been an old now; you would have been an old man, but you might still have been man, but you might still have been alive. What a tragedy that you – the alive. What a tragedy that you – the very first to enter space – never lived very first to enter space – never lived to see men walk on the Moon! But to see men walk on the Moon! But you too must have dreamed of you too must have dreamed of Mars…Mars…

We’ve spent time this semester going We’ve spent time this semester going over some huge, broad questions, the over some huge, broad questions, the answers to which have some pretty answers to which have some pretty significant implications for how your significant implications for how your generation will approach the future it’s generation will approach the future it’s inheriting. inheriting.

Among them: which things must Among them: which things must humanity retain as it moves into the humanity retain as it moves into the future in order to remain human? future in order to remain human?

Is there more to us than meets the Is there more to us than meets the eye? eye?

Do we have inevitable, unavoidable Do we have inevitable, unavoidable destinies, or do we have the ability to destinies, or do we have the ability to dictate the directions our lives take? dictate the directions our lives take?

Is there such a thing as true Is there such a thing as true goodness in the universe, or a moral code goodness in the universe, or a moral code that we shouldn’t violate under any that we shouldn’t violate under any circumstances? circumstances?

Is there something waiting for us on Is there something waiting for us on the other side of the line dividing life from the other side of the line dividing life from death? death?

Which factors shape who we are, how Which factors shape who we are, how we behave, and how we perceive the we behave, and how we perceive the world? world?

Is there something out there with, as Is there something out there with, as C.S. Lewis wrote in his response to C.S. Lewis wrote in his response to Childhood’s End,Childhood’s End, “a higher claim on “a higher claim on humanity than its own ‘survival’?” humanity than its own ‘survival’?”

And, last but not least, why are we And, last but not least, why are we here? What’s the point of it all? What’s here? What’s the point of it all? What’s the lesson we’re spending our lives trying the lesson we’re spending our lives trying to learn?to learn?

Obviously, these questions had a Obviously, these questions had a great deal to do with our earlier works great deal to do with our earlier works – – The Epic of Gilgamesh, The Inferno, The Epic of Gilgamesh, The Inferno, King Lear, (500) Days of Summer, The King Lear, (500) Days of Summer, The Visitor, In the Pale Moonlight, Visitor, In the Pale Moonlight, and and Wall-E.Wall-E.

They’re the questions at the heart They’re the questions at the heart of your Artium Magisters as well; of your Artium Magisters as well; anyone with the quote sheet in front anyone with the quote sheet in front of them can see how many quotes aim of them can see how many quotes aim to help provide others with, at a to help provide others with, at a minimum, raw material and building minimum, raw material and building blocks that lead to some answers.blocks that lead to some answers.

In its treatment of gods, monsters, and mortals, In its treatment of gods, monsters, and mortals, the ancient the ancient GilgameshGilgamesh makes powerful statements: makes powerful statements: that our purpose is to build; that our humanity that our purpose is to build; that our humanity depends on our willingness to support, love, protect, depends on our willingness to support, love, protect, and remember each other; that because nothing waits and remember each other; that because nothing waits on the other side of death, we on the other side of death, we mustmust spend every spend every second of our short lives second of our short lives living.living.

Dante’s Dante’s InfernoInferno states that God has a higher states that God has a higher claim on human lives than anything or anyone else; claim on human lives than anything or anyone else; that there are morals we absolutely cannot afford to that there are morals we absolutely cannot afford to break without ruining our immortal souls; that love break without ruining our immortal souls; that love powers the universe, and thus drives the fragile, powers the universe, and thus drives the fragile, fickle human heart to greater heights than should be fickle human heart to greater heights than should be possible.possible.

King Lear King Lear examined the complicated factors that examined the complicated factors that shape our actions and choices – the illusion of control, shape our actions and choices – the illusion of control, the assumption of familial loyalty and love – and the assumption of familial loyalty and love – and advances the uneasy message that there may not be advances the uneasy message that there may not be a universal “good” (for all the storms that rage once a universal “good” (for all the storms that rage once Lear’s been mistreated, Cordelia still lies dead in his Lear’s been mistreated, Cordelia still lies dead in his arms – the price of her incredible loyalty).arms – the price of her incredible loyalty).

Our Star Trek episodes adopted those Our Star Trek episodes adopted those concepts and ran with them. concepts and ran with them.

The Visitor The Visitor takes the takes the Gilgamesh-Gilgamesh-ian ian obsession with recovering something loved and obsession with recovering something loved and lost and uses it to examine the things that shape lost and uses it to examine the things that shape our lives’ paths. our lives’ paths.

Jake’s career as a writer comes crashing to Jake’s career as a writer comes crashing to a halt, his marriage falls apart, and ultimately a halt, his marriage falls apart, and ultimately does the very thing humans refused to do after does the very thing humans refused to do after the Overlords revealed themselves: spend his the Overlords revealed themselves: spend his adulthood pursuing ultimately futile scientific adulthood pursuing ultimately futile scientific breakthroughs. breakthroughs.

He, like Dante, is driven by love; he, like He, like Dante, is driven by love; he, like Gilgamesh, is driven by fear; he, like Lear, is Gilgamesh, is driven by fear; he, like Lear, is driven by pain. driven by pain.

And while it’s that combination of fear and And while it’s that combination of fear and pain that allows Jake to lose himself, love – and pain that allows Jake to lose himself, love – and the courage it grants him – wins out, allowing the courage it grants him – wins out, allowing him to make the sacrifice that brings his father him to make the sacrifice that brings his father home – a father who, contrary to some of your home – a father who, contrary to some of your interpretations of the episode, remembers interpretations of the episode, remembers everything that happened.everything that happened.

And during the events of And during the events of In the Pale In the Pale Moonlight Moonlight two years later, Jake’s father, Ben two years later, Jake’s father, Ben Sisko, allows that same combination of love and Sisko, allows that same combination of love and fear to convince him to take actions that would fear to convince him to take actions that would ordinarily horrify him. ordinarily horrify him.

He intentionally He intentionally betraysbetrays Vreenak, the Vreenak, the Romulan Senator who’s his guest on the station.Romulan Senator who’s his guest on the station.

While it’s certainly to a greater degree than While it’s certainly to a greater degree than he intended, I’m pretty sure Dante Alighieri’s he intended, I’m pretty sure Dante Alighieri’s God would have ripped his soul out the second God would have ripped his soul out the second Garak’s bomb went off anyway; if the captain’s Garak’s bomb went off anyway; if the captain’s ending monologue is any indication, he very well ending monologue is any indication, he very well may have. may have.

Yet Sisko’s unwilling to allow morals that Yet Sisko’s unwilling to allow morals that arose in a vacuum to condemn millions who he arose in a vacuum to condemn millions who he could save in the here and now; in the end, could save in the here and now; in the end, there’s nothing that has a higher claim on there’s nothing that has a higher claim on humanity than its need to survive. humanity than its need to survive.

And while our films may have been And while our films may have been united at the most basic level – even if, as united at the most basic level – even if, as the narrator says at the beginning of the narrator says at the beginning of (500) (500) Days of Summer,Days of Summer, the film is not a love the film is not a love story, both it and story, both it and Wall-EWall-E are stories are stories concerned with love – they’re also both concerned with love – they’re also both about finding one’s purpose, not settling about finding one’s purpose, not settling for what circumstance has left us with. for what circumstance has left us with.

Wall-E is a survivor. Wall-E is a survivor. He’s the last of his kind, still He’s the last of his kind, still

performing the same task he was designed performing the same task he was designed for but with potential for so much more. for but with potential for so much more.

His creativity and inventiveness are His creativity and inventiveness are being wasted in a job that’s mechanical in being wasted in a job that’s mechanical in nature, its only byproduct to crush things nature, its only byproduct to crush things into neat, manageable packages. into neat, manageable packages.

Wall-E cranks out trash cubes; Wall-E cranks out trash cubes; Tom cranks out greeting cards. Tom cranks out greeting cards.

It’s all the same thing – It’s all the same thing – rubbish in, rubbish out, equally rubbish in, rubbish out, equally fulfilling all around. fulfilling all around.

And when both come to And when both come to hunger for more, and hunger for more, and circumstances allow them to circumstances allow them to reach for the greater heights of reach for the greater heights of architecture and outer space, architecture and outer space, they eventually reach for them. they eventually reach for them.

The Trash Planet that Earth The Trash Planet that Earth becomes in becomes in Wall-EWall-E is the opposite of is the opposite of Earth after the Overlords arrive. Earth after the Overlords arrive. Whereas Andrew Stanton (Whereas Andrew Stanton (Wall-E’sWall-E’s writer and director) foresaw a future writer and director) foresaw a future where our choices would render our where our choices would render our world uninhabitable, Arthur C. Clarke world uninhabitable, Arthur C. Clarke dared to picture the consequences of dared to picture the consequences of our world becoming more habitable for our world becoming more habitable for all. all.

And to his credit, Clarke wasn’t And to his credit, Clarke wasn’t blindly optimistic; while the realism of blindly optimistic; while the realism of his specific vision can be debated, he his specific vision can be debated, he recognized that every future, good or recognized that every future, good or ill, comes with its costs. ill, comes with its costs.

That’s why I’ve asked you to That’s why I’ve asked you to consider the tradeoffs associated consider the tradeoffs associated with what Clarke’s proposing, as well with what Clarke’s proposing, as well as whether we’d lose what made us as whether we’d lose what made us who we are by abandoning the who we are by abandoning the artistic, theological, and scientific artistic, theological, and scientific pursuits meant to drive man pursuits meant to drive man forward. forward.

Notice that art still exists in our Notice that art still exists in our post-Overlord society – movies do post-Overlord society – movies do big business! – as do science and a big business! – as do science and a bit of faith. bit of faith.

But they’re about filling in the But they’re about filling in the margins in what we already know. margins in what we already know.

Star Trek’sStar Trek’s motto is about motto is about boldly going where no one has boldly going where no one has gone before because gone before because that was that was what we dreamed ofwhat we dreamed of – not simply – not simply exploring, but exploring exploring, but exploring untraveled ground. untraveled ground.

Now we build our houses high Now we build our houses high and pursue sports vigorously, and pursue sports vigorously, unconsciously finding outlets for unconsciously finding outlets for the pent-up energies we once the pent-up energies we once spent reaching for greater heights.spent reaching for greater heights.

But even if their physical But even if their physical surroundings couldn’t be more different, surroundings couldn’t be more different, both Wall-E and Jan Rodricks suffer from both Wall-E and Jan Rodricks suffer from the same spiritual affliction, prisoners of the same spiritual affliction, prisoners of circumstances they didn’t choose: the last circumstances they didn’t choose: the last automaton, the last stellar dreamer. automaton, the last stellar dreamer.

Both look to the stars. Both look to the stars. Both, for different reasons, stow Both, for different reasons, stow

away on ships that can take them on great away on ships that can take them on great adventures. adventures.

And when they reach the end of their And when they reach the end of their travels outward, they find things that travels outward, they find things that would have been virtually inconceivable to would have been virtually inconceivable to men living a hundred years ago. men living a hundred years ago.

Jan doesn’t provide the only Jan doesn’t provide the only connection between connection between Childhood’s EndChildhood’s End and the rest of our curriculum, but and the rest of our curriculum, but he’s the clearest one we have. he’s the clearest one we have.

In some ways, he, like the rest of In some ways, he, like the rest of our characters, is playing out ancient our characters, is playing out ancient archetypes: crossing the threshold, archetypes: crossing the threshold, embarking on a voyage that may embarking on a voyage that may have no safe return. have no safe return.

And when he boldly goes, the And when he boldly goes, the first human to do so in over a first human to do so in over a hundred years, we see ourselves hundred years, we see ourselves reflected in him far more clearly than reflected in him far more clearly than in men like Rupert Boyce and George in men like Rupert Boyce and George Greggson. Greggson.

Before Jan’s static generation – the Before Jan’s static generation – the section’s titled “The Golden Age” in somewhat section’s titled “The Golden Age” in somewhat biting fashion – we meet an Earth on the cusp of biting fashion – we meet an Earth on the cusp of a huge leap. a huge leap.

To say they’re leaping forward, however, is To say they’re leaping forward, however, is somewhat presumptuous: we see a future almost somewhat presumptuous: we see a future almost a century from now in which nations are still a century from now in which nations are still locked in combat, only now our battles have locked in combat, only now our battles have moved from our earthly sphere to the space moved from our earthly sphere to the space directly above it. directly above it.

In Helena Lyakhov and Mohan Kaleer, we In Helena Lyakhov and Mohan Kaleer, we see that Russia and the United States never fully see that Russia and the United States never fully end their Cold War: now the nations race to the end their Cold War: now the nations race to the stars in order to achieve a measure of military stars in order to achieve a measure of military dominance. dominance.

Yet their struggle, so significant on our Yet their struggle, so significant on our global scale, barely registers on a galactic one. global scale, barely registers on a galactic one.

And when the Overlords appear, the futility And when the Overlords appear, the futility of everything we’d been fighting for becomes of everything we’d been fighting for becomes inescapable: only fools fight to the death in order inescapable: only fools fight to the death in order to control a tiny piece of the infinite. to control a tiny piece of the infinite.

By saving us from ourselves, of By saving us from ourselves, of course, the Overlords prevent us course, the Overlords prevent us from exploring the rest of said from exploring the rest of said infinite. infinite.

All of the tools they utilize, from All of the tools they utilize, from the device that allows us to peer the device that allows us to peer through time to the social changes through time to the social changes their presence fosters, aim to keep their presence fosters, aim to keep us here, prisoners on a planet we’re us here, prisoners on a planet we’re only just now becoming capable of only just now becoming capable of escaping. escaping.

And one of man’s greatest, most And one of man’s greatest, most maddening qualities is that he’s maddening qualities is that he’s absolutely terrible at recognizing absolutely terrible at recognizing and abiding by his limits. and abiding by his limits.

We cannot be penned, cannot be We cannot be penned, cannot be shackled, and cannot be restricted shackled, and cannot be restricted forever. forever.

We mark human “progress” by the We mark human “progress” by the degree to which we make ourselves freer, degree to which we make ourselves freer, giving ourselves more control over our giving ourselves more control over our tiny piece of the great big universe. tiny piece of the great big universe.

By saying, quietly, “You cannot,” the By saying, quietly, “You cannot,” the Overlords put conditions in place that Overlords put conditions in place that were bound to leave at least some men in were bound to leave at least some men in Stormgren’s and Rodricks’s position: Stormgren’s and Rodricks’s position: willing to risk everything for the sake of willing to risk everything for the sake of forbidden knowledge. forbidden knowledge.

This is how we lose Paradise in This is how we lose Paradise in Biblical times, and although we lose the Biblical times, and although we lose the Paradise that arises following the Paradise that arises following the Overlords’ arrival for different reasons, Overlords’ arrival for different reasons, it’s impossible to miss the parallels. it’s impossible to miss the parallels.

Rikki Stormgren, like the curious residents Rikki Stormgren, like the curious residents of Eden, comes to hunger for the forbidden fruit of Eden, comes to hunger for the forbidden fruit of knowledge the Overlords have denied him: the of knowledge the Overlords have denied him: the nature of their appearance. nature of their appearance.

I mentioned that he and Jan are similar in I mentioned that he and Jan are similar in many ways, and their similarities extend beyond many ways, and their similarities extend beyond their need to know more about the race that their need to know more about the race that simultaneously saves and imprisons us. simultaneously saves and imprisons us.

If we consider that the original edition of If we consider that the original edition of Childhood’s End Childhood’s End did not contain the brief did not contain the brief prologue involving Lyakhov and Kaleer, the true prologue involving Lyakhov and Kaleer, the true beginning to the story is the scene where beginning to the story is the scene where Stormgren stands motionless at a window, Stormgren stands motionless at a window, looking down impassively at the traffic stalled looking down impassively at the traffic stalled below. below.

The contrast between the cosmonaut and The contrast between the cosmonaut and commander – bent on military gain, yes, but commander – bent on military gain, yes, but straining for the stars – and the secretary-straining for the stars – and the secretary-general could not be more pronounced. general could not be more pronounced.

It’s the different between forward motion It’s the different between forward motion and stasis, between propulsion and cessation, and stasis, between propulsion and cessation, between momentum and monotony.between momentum and monotony.

In the years following the In the years following the Overlords’ appearances, we learned Overlords’ appearances, we learned to acknowledge their presence in our to acknowledge their presence in our skies. skies.

No amount of familiarity, No amount of familiarity, however, is enough for either the however, is enough for either the insatiably curious or the inherently insatiably curious or the inherently fearful/skeptical among us, and we fearful/skeptical among us, and we see Stormgren sneering at the see Stormgren sneering at the rabble congregating around his rabble congregating around his building. building.

He stands at a remove from the He stands at a remove from the outside human world; he may as well outside human world; he may as well be an Overlord. be an Overlord.

Stormgren’s initial arguments with Stormgren’s initial arguments with Wainwright, the frustrated and fearful Wainwright, the frustrated and fearful religious leader, reveal this as well. religious leader, reveal this as well.

Wainwright argues that Europe may Wainwright argues that Europe may be united under the Overlords, but that be united under the Overlords, but that the means of that unity undermines its the means of that unity undermines its purpose: “I do not necessarily quarrel purpose: “I do not necessarily quarrel with Federation as an ultimate objective – with Federation as an ultimate objective – though many of my supporters might not though many of my supporters might not agree. But it must come from within – not agree. But it must come from within – not be superimposed from without. We must be superimposed from without. We must work out our own destiny. There must be work out our own destiny. There must be no more interference in human affairs!” no more interference in human affairs!”

It’s an argument for an organic It’s an argument for an organic process in a world of gleaming steel; process in a world of gleaming steel; Wainwright is a relic of the past, in so Wainwright is a relic of the past, in so many ways, and perhaps he’s lucky he many ways, and perhaps he’s lucky he isn’t around to see the end of the world.isn’t around to see the end of the world.

At any rate, Stormgren returns At any rate, Stormgren returns fire: “Can you deny that the Overlords fire: “Can you deny that the Overlords have brought security, peace, and have brought security, peace, and prosperity to the world?” prosperity to the world?”

Wainwright replies: “That is true. Wainwright replies: “That is true. But they have taken our liberty.” But they have taken our liberty.”

It’s a difficult conflict: why would It’s a difficult conflict: why would freedom matter if what we seek has freedom matter if what we seek has been provided to us? been provided to us?

Wainwright struggles to put his Wainwright struggles to put his feelings into words, but he seems to feelings into words, but he seems to be frustrated by what feels like a lack be frustrated by what feels like a lack of authority, a lack of control over his of authority, a lack of control over his destiny. destiny.

For while we don’t necessarily For while we don’t necessarily resent authority – plenty of people resent authority – plenty of people enjoy positive relationships with enjoy positive relationships with authority figures – authority figures – we resent being we resent being controlled by that which we cannot controlled by that which we cannot understand.understand.

This is an old concern. This is an old concern. It’s why It’s why GilgameshGilgamesh is soaked with is soaked with

skepticism towards the gods, why skepticism towards the gods, why Boethius exhorts us to ignore Fortune Boethius exhorts us to ignore Fortune in in Consolation of PhilosophyConsolation of Philosophy, and why , and why Dante must understand the ways of Dante must understand the ways of his God before he can truly be said to his God before he can truly be said to be living well. be living well.

Wainwright isn’t the only one who Wainwright isn’t the only one who recognizes this. recognizes this.

Stormgren, too, is deeply curious about Stormgren, too, is deeply curious about the Overlords’ appearance, as is his deputy, the Overlords’ appearance, as is his deputy, Pieter Van Ryberg. Pieter Van Ryberg.

Van Ryberg’s a fountain of conspiracy Van Ryberg’s a fountain of conspiracy theories, proposing that the Overlords are theories, proposing that the Overlords are everything from sentient machines to beings everything from sentient machines to beings that look exactly like us (and whose influence that look exactly like us (and whose influence we’d therefore resist if we saw them). we’d therefore resist if we saw them).

I do like that Clarke toys with his I do like that Clarke toys with his audience by allowing Van Ryberg to give audience by allowing Van Ryberg to give away the game in a throwaway line, as the away the game in a throwaway line, as the irritated deputy exclaims, “Why the devil irritated deputy exclaims, “Why the devil won’t he show himself?”won’t he show himself?”

Obviously, Karellen has good reason to Obviously, Karellen has good reason to stay invisible. stay invisible.

Stormgren tells Karellen that “I Stormgren tells Karellen that “I have to go down there and convince my have to go down there and convince my fellow men that, although you won’t fellow men that, although you won’t show yourself, you’ve got nothing to show yourself, you’ve got nothing to hide. It’s not an easy job. Curiosity is hide. It’s not an easy job. Curiosity is one of the most dominant of human one of the most dominant of human characteristics[, and] you can’t defy it characteristics[, and] you can’t defy it forever.”forever.”

Can we trust the things we cannot Can we trust the things we cannot see?see?

Can we believe in that which we Can we believe in that which we cannot prove and cannot reinforce?cannot prove and cannot reinforce?

But we’re not just curious. But we’re not just curious.

When the Overlords first When the Overlords first arrive, we’re deeply flawed and arrive, we’re deeply flawed and superstitious beings. superstitious beings.

The sight of devils walking The sight of devils walking among us could only lead to among us could only lead to pandemonium; we’d destroy pandemonium; we’d destroy ourselves by frantically trying to ourselves by frantically trying to destroy them (can you imagine the destroy them (can you imagine the variety of responses we’d see from variety of responses we’d see from nations around the world to the nations around the world to the appearance of alien ships?).appearance of alien ships?).

You know why Wainwright and his kind You know why Wainwright and his kind fear me, don’t you? You will find men like him fear me, don’t you? You will find men like him in all the world’s religions. They know that we in all the world’s religions. They know that we represent reason and science, and, however represent reason and science, and, however confident they may be in their beliefs, they fear confident they may be in their beliefs, they fear that we will overthrow their gods. Not that we will overthrow their gods. Not necessarily through any deliberate act, but in a necessarily through any deliberate act, but in a subtler fashion. Science can destroy religion by subtler fashion. Science can destroy religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets. ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets. No one ever demonstrated, so far as I am No one ever demonstrated, so far as I am aware, the nonexistence of Zeus or Thor, but aware, the nonexistence of Zeus or Thor, but they have few followers now. The Wainwrights they have few followers now. The Wainwrights fear, too, that we know the truth about the fear, too, that we know the truth about the origins of their faiths. How long, they wonder, origins of their faiths. How long, they wonder, have we been observing humanity? Have we have we been observing humanity? Have we watched Mohammed begin the watched Mohammed begin the hegira,hegira, or Moses or Moses giving the Jews their laws? Do we know all that giving the Jews their laws? Do we know all that is false in the stories they believe?is false in the stories they believe?

And what would happen to us, one And what would happen to us, one wonders, if our understanding of the universe wonders, if our understanding of the universe was so thoroughly upset? was so thoroughly upset?

Would we be able to believe our own Would we be able to believe our own eyes? eyes?

Trust our perceptions? Trust our perceptions? Or would we recoil from the Or would we recoil from the

unpleasantness of doubt, choosing darkness unpleasantness of doubt, choosing darkness over knowledge?over knowledge?

You can probably guess which we’d You can probably guess which we’d choose. choose.

And it’s why, even though it makes the And it’s why, even though it makes the beginning of the novel excruciatingly tense (we beginning of the novel excruciatingly tense (we want to know what the Overlords look like as want to know what the Overlords look like as badly as Stormgren does), our visitors make badly as Stormgren does), our visitors make the right decision.the right decision.

For when we do bite that particular apple, For when we do bite that particular apple, when we do fall from our current state, when when we do fall from our current state, when knowledge brings us devils once again…knowledge brings us devils once again…nothing can ever be the same. nothing can ever be the same.