The Children's Era: What's Up With the Closing Lines?

    The Children's Era: What's Up With the Closing Lines?

      We want to create a real Century of the Child--to usher in a Children's Era. We can do this by handing the terrific gift of life in bodies fit and perfect as can be fashioned. Help us to make this Conference which has aroused so much interest the turning point toward this era. Only so can you help in the creation of the future. (106-109)

      Well, nobody could accuse Sanger of not linking her actual speech to its title, because she talks about the kiddies throughout. She opened by lambasting her listeners for not creating the Children's Era already.

      But don't worry, Shmoopers, because Sanger's conclusion tells us how we can fix that little problem.

      In Sentence 106, Sanger hearkens back to her opening lines: "We want to create a real Century of the Child—". Throughout the speech, Sanger has given options for how that can happen. She winds up at Sentence 107, which says that the Children's Era will become a reality only when children have bodies as "fit and perfect as can be fashioned."

      So, no pressure.

      In the very last lines, Sentences 108-109, Sanger issues a call to action for her listeners. She wants them to help put her plan into practice so that the Children's Era can become a real thing, not just an ironic title for a speech. (Read more about the irony in our "What's Up With the Title" section.)

      We say, as long as we're throwing out ideas for a Children's Era, can we get a three-hour afternoon nap in there?