Babylon Revisited

How does the role of Paris as a setting in “Babylon Revisited” serve the story, and how would the story be different if it took place in a different city?

Why might Fitzgerald end the story with Charlie’s failure to gain custody of his daughter?

Examine the dynamic between Charlie Wales and Honoria Wales. How does their relationship highlight the complexities of familial bonds and responsibilities in the aftermath of personal downfall?

Consider the portrayal of wealth and its transience in “Babylon Revisited,” particularly how Fitzgerald critiques the illusions of the 1920s. What perspectives might be left out of Fitzgerald’s discussion of the Jazz Age?

Reflect on Charlie’s character depiction. How might the story change if Charlie’s character was presented as unreliable?

Discuss the influence of Modernist literary techniques in “Babylon Revisited,” such as flashback, internal dialogue, and the avoidance of traditional linear narratives.

Analyze the character of Marion Peters. How does she function as both a foil and a catalyst in Charlie’s journey toward personal reform in “Babylon Revisited?”

Explore how Fitzgerald’s “Babylon Revisited” can be read as a moral tale about the consequences of excess and the challenges of reclaiming one’s integrity and honor.