Babylon Revisited: F. Scott Fitzgerald

“Babylon Revisited”
F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of “Babylon Revisited” (1931), is regarded by many as “the spokesman of the post—World War I ‘jazz age’ generation” CITATION rob \p 365 \l 1033 (DiYanni 365). Of his many short stories, several embodied a loosely based self-reflection of his own personal life experiences leading up to the Stock Market crash of 1929 and the depression that followed CITATION Lin \l 1033 (Goldberg). In “Babylon Revisited,” he writes a sentimental short story highlighting the consequences of an irresponsible and self-indulgent lifestyle, typical of that era. Although some may agree that the theme of “Babylon Revisited” flirts with the atonements of one’s sins, Fitzgerald weaves an emotional exchange of dialogue that solidifies the idea that we may not be able to escape from our past, but we don’t have to let it define the outcome of our future.
Fitzgerald begins by identifying the main character, Charlie J. Whales—widower and father—who has returned to Paris, the city of his debaucherous past, to see his daughter, Honoria. It is interesting to observe how Fitzgerald correlates Paris then, to the ancient biblical city of Babylon in the title of the story; for this city was also known for its extravagance and sin. The story begins with a brief present tense exposition and quickly transitions to an outline establishing a timeline in relation to Charlie’s past. Fitzgerald describes a setting in the early 1930’s where Charlie’s financial losses in the stock market crash are over shadowed by his family losses in the boom CITATION rob \p 378 \l 1033 (DiYanni 378). What was once a life beaming with laughter and the hustle of a boom town, the places Charlie remembers are abandoned and devoid of everything but silence and depression. As Charlie’s previous life is recounted, his inability to escape such a past is substantiated by his struggles with alcoholism, and his inadequacies as a husband and father. At every turn in Charlie’s life, he is repeatedly reminded of his mistakes, which bothers him greatly! While he walks through town, old haunts are reminiscent of wasteful partying, drunken indulgence, and guilt. A ghost from his past and ex-lover, Lorraine Quarrles, reminds him of his adulterous married days: a nightmare he wishes he could forget CITATION rob \p 375 \l 1033 (DiYanni 375). Even his daughter on a subconscious level, reminds him of how he failed as a father; falling short in his responsibilities.
Synonymously, Fitzgerald reinforces the idea of an inescapable past by utilizing the elements of time again within the action and body of the story in a more present tense. This is demonstrated in Charlie’s activities with his daughter throughout the beginning of the story, by which time is referenced; sometimes citing even the “cheer” of a specific hour CITATION rob \p 367 \l 1033 (DiYanni 367). “Time is of the essence,” some say, and Fitzgerald uses this idea to draw attention to Charlie’s recognition of his wasted opportunities. By presenting Charlie’s interaction with his daughter in this manner, it allows the reader to sense the preciousness of time as Charlie does. Charlie quickly sees that his hope for a future is moving farther out of his grasp and “If he waits much longer, he’ll lose his daughters childhood and his chance to have a home” CITATION rob \p 372 \l 1033 (DiYanni 372).
As the story develops, Fitzgerald takes a different approach on the idea of an inescapable past as it applies to the conflict between the main characters of the story. As he continues to outline a more present tense conflict in relation to time, between Charlie and his sister-in-law—Marion, Charlie continues to aggressively pursue the custody of his daughter, Honoria. This conflict of interest between Charlie and Marion allows Fitzgerald the freedom to develop Charlie as more of a dynamic character exhibiting a change—in attitude, in purpose, in behavior—as the story progresses CITATION rob \p 60 \l 1033 (DiYanni 60). For the reader, this solidifies Charlie’s shift of mindset; as this represents a change toward the better. Charlie’s sister-in-law, Marion on the other hand—the stories antagonist and guardian of Honoria, takes on more of the static character as she remains unchanging in her views of Charlie. This is important in the context of Charlie’s past as the focus here highlights Charlie’s move towards a changed man while enduring his sister-in-law’s inability to forgive his past transgressions. Fitzgerald illustrates this throughout the story with Marion’s ever-present, continual rehashing of her sister’s martyrdom over a single drunken binge, questioning Charlie’s sobriety for Honoria’s sake CITATION rob \p 372 \l 1033 (DiYanni 372). This allows the reader to identify with Charlie’s present, good intentions, yet feel his pain in relation to his inability to escape his past as a result of being heavily scrutinized by his sister-in-law.
In either case Fitzgerald points us towards a resolution with a future time element, however, even in resolution, Charlie’s past prevails. Marion finally gives in to Charlie taking custody of his daughter, and as a result, Charlie falls asleep and dreams that his late wife tells him that she wants their daughter to be with him CITATION rob \p 374 \l 1033 (DiYanni 374). This dream plays a powerful role because it sets up the reader for an expected happy ending. It also demonstrates on a subconscious level that Charlie really believes in the future he is fighting for despite all the bad things he has endured up until this point in the story. Fitzgerald uses this set up in the story to again formulate his theme of an inescapable past as it relates to Charlie. As fate would have it, Charlie’s prevailing past reappears unannounced at his sister-in-law’s house, ending the story with a glorious exchange of dialogue and a theatrical ending resulting in an unexpected six month continuance of Charlie taking custody of his daughter. At this point, Charlie comes to grips with his past as inescapable, but still chooses to fight for what is important in his life by resorting to the fact that he would return someday; “they couldn’t make him pay forever” CITATION rob \p 378 \l 1033 (DiYanni 378).
Throughout “Babylon Revisited” Fitzgerald formulates his short story based on the main character’s inability to escape his past, melding it with context of time—past present, and the future, and their common place in our lives. We are a product of our past whether we like it or not, and it affects our presence as well as our future. Expressing these elements in the fashion Fitzgerald did, captures the dilemma Charlie faced. We might not be able to escape our past, but we don’t have to let it wreck our future and define who we have become as we move forward in our life’s endeavors.
Works Cited BIBLIOGRAPHY \l 1033 DiYanni, Robert. "Literature: Approaches to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama - 2nd ed." DiYanni, Robert. Literature: Approaches to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama - 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008, 2004. 365-378.
Eby, Cecil D. ""Fitzgerald 's Babylon Revisited." Explicator 53.3 (1995): 176. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 9 Oct. 2010."
Goldberg, Lina. F. Scott Fitzgerald 's 'Babylon Revisited ' Revisited. February 2006. 10 October
2010 <http://linagoldberg.com/babylonrevisited.html>.
Turner, J. "Fitzgerald 's Babylon Reevisited." Explicator 48.4 (1990): 282-283. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 9 Oct. 2010."

Bibliography: l 1033 DiYanni, Robert. "Literature: Approaches to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama - 2nd ed." DiYanni, Robert. Literature: Approaches to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama - 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008, 2004. 365-378. Eby, Cecil D. ""Fitzgerald 's Babylon Revisited." Explicator 53.3 (1995): 176. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 9 Oct. 2010." Goldberg, Lina. F. Scott Fitzgerald 's 'Babylon Revisited ' Revisited. February 2006. 10 October 2010 &lt;http://linagoldberg.com/babylonrevisited.html&gt;. Turner, J. "Fitzgerald 's Babylon Reevisited." Explicator 48.4 (1990): 282-283. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 9 Oct. 2010."