Hold Tight And Babylon Revisited: An Analysis

The relationship between family members can vary from extremely close to almost as if they don't know each other. Different events can cause strain on these relationships, making them stronger or tearing them apart. In this essay, I will be discussing the attempted changes in family dynamics in “Hold Tight” and “Babylon Revisited”.
In “Hold Tight” the family has to deal with the Mothers impending death from cancer. The Della, the daughter is acting out because of it, having been in two car accidents that year, and smoking marijuana (Bloom, 652). While they are surviving as a whole, they are only living a fraction of the life that they had been living. The mother used to paint, even attempting to Teach Della how to paint, but as cancer took her strength away she
could paint less and less until she could no longer paint even with help. Towards the end, Della tried to help her mother paint but was unable to make the strokes right. (Bloom, 651). The relationship of Della to her mother is similar to how they were trying to paint, Della is attempting to hold on to her mother in whatever way she can, but her ability to hold on to her how she was fading. Mentally she calls her "mother" but when discussing her with her father and when painting it is "mommy". This shows that she is separating the mother she knew growing up from the one dying of cancer. Della is coping with the change, but not overcoming her feelings toward her mother. In truth, the only overcoming that the family in this story does is the rekindling of the relationship between father and daughter.
The relationship between Della and her father changes throughout the story. They agree on things, such as taking a shift each night to save money on hospice, yet Della smokes marijuana in an attempt to rile him up. They are both annoyed with each other's smoking and drinking, but at this point are too exhausted to fight, instead quietly sitting next to each other, while each does their respective coping mechanism (Bloom 651). Their relationship wasn't always one of mutual coping, as before the first time the mother got sick Della's father had taught her how to play chess and they had played regularly (Bloom, 653). However not all was lost, as the relationship between father and daughter, while not perfect was healing. The night the mother died, the father tucked Della into bed for the first time in a long time and would tell her anything about the mom, so long as Della asked. This was different than what it had been as the father hadn't even really told Della anything about his life (Bloom, 654). Together, they overcame the stress caused by the mother's death, while beginning the healing process, taking steps forward to ease the tension in their relationship and remember the mother as she was. Della and her father are able to get closure and go on living together, but this wasn't the case in all of the stories we read.
In “Babylon Revisited”, the Story of Charles Wales is told.
Wales is attempting to regain custody of his daughter from his sister-in-law, Marion, who does not trust him with his daughter Honoria. While Wales' relationship with Marion was rocky from then the time that he had married Helen, but to make it worse Marion blames Wales for Helen's death. (Fitzgerald, 369). The relationship between Marion and Wales is tense, with the central argument being around Honoria's guardianship. Marion is afraid that Wales will go back to his old habits, the habits that she feels lead to the death of Helen, and will cause something similar to happen to Honoria. Wales, on the other hand, is afraid of losing his chance to know his daughter, or that Marion will train Honoria to hate him as well. However, at least when he took her out, Honoria doesn't hate him, rather is concerned that he will cause himself to be initially ruined again (Fitzgerald, 367). However, Honoria wants to live with him or at least claims them to Wales' face. (Fitzgerald, 368). Despite having host Helen, their relationship is fine, especially for having been essentially estranged due to Marion's Wishes. However, their happiness is not to
last.
Due to Marion's "condition", Honoria has to stay with Marion so that the symptoms of distress will cease. Despite Wales' attempts to pacify Marion, it is decided that Wales should try again in a while. While unsuccessful in maintaining his goals, he was at least able to see his daughter, which was an upgrade over not seeing her at all. Unfortunately, without living together, All of Wales' dreams of his life are now meaningless, and he desires to not be so alone (Fitzgerald, 376). Everything occurs, instead of a joyous reunion is an empty, lonely feeling, where no one wins and nothing is right.
When faced with a death in the family, bonds can be strengthened, or they could be broken. In the Case of Della and her Father, the death of the mother reopened communication between the two. For Wales and Honoria, they long to be together as a family, but due to a relative are unable to do so. Families in these stories are not perfect, but they are trying, and that is all that we can ask for out of anyone; to try to overcome the hardships they face. While no one is always successful, as shown in these stories, it is not the success that matters, but the attempt as you can always try again.