In the beginning of the novel, P. D. James crafts a portrait of Theodore Faron as a man who is independent and aloof. Situating Theo as an unfulfilled professor, the author looks back at events that shaped him before the Omega transformed society.

Although he married and the couple had a baby girl, Theo remained immersed in his work. After the young girl dies in a horrible accident, the extent to which he was actually responsible for his daughter’s death becomes inconsequential, because he is derailed by guilt. Theo concludes not only that he did not actually love the girl or his wife, but that he is incapable of loving anyone. Having retreated into a cold emotional state, Theo has no confidence that social reform, much less rebellion, will help turn things around in their sterile world.

While it seems that Julian and her group may have made an impression on Theo, as he agrees to meet with them, his arrogant attitude suggests that he will refuse to help them. When he later witnesses a Quietus, the author implies that his perspective may change.