Short Story Babylon Revisited

The short story, Babylon Revisited features a plot with circumstances relatable to many people. The story is about a former alcoholic that suffered from the losses of the Great Depression, but mostly the loss of his daughter, Honoria. After Honoria’s mother’s death, Honoria went to live with her maternal aunt and uncle because of her father’s state at the time. Honoria’s aunt, Marion, blames Charles for her sister’s death due to his alcoholism and him leaving her outside in the cold. Several years later, Marion is still unable to discuss her sister much less her death and continues to blame Charles for her death. Charles approaches Lincoln and Marion for custody of Honoria, but Marion continues to use her sister’s death as an excuse to not
grant Charles custody of Honoria. Comparing the Tebbetts article to Babylon Revisited, I struggled to see the connection Tebbetts is making concerning Charles viewing his daughter, Honoria as a possessive object, "You don’t want to be justified," he adds. "You want Honoria" (625), as if his daughter were an object to be possessed.” (Tebbetts, pg. 153). Personally, I think the reason Charles wants Honoria back in his life is because he has reached a more stable point in his life and he loves his daughter. Charles makes several attempts to gain custody of Honoria, despite being sent away and given excuses several times by her guardians. I think Charles has changed and he is more of a family man, he put the partying behind him and he is trying to move forward with his life and remedy his past mistakes. Even though mistakes cannot be easily forgiven or erased, he deserves a chance to be reunited with his daughter as a result of the efforts he has made in improving himself.