Babylon Revisited

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1931

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Themes

The Quest for Personal Redemption

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses alcoholism.

“Babylon Revisited” presents redemption as a complex, highly personal journey. Charlie Wales’s quest for redemption is articulated through his efforts to regain custody of his daughter, Honoria, symbolizing his desire for a fresh start and a new life. However, Fitzgerald delineates redemption as a path that is neither linear nor assured, reflecting the intrinsic human struggle for absolution and self-forgiveness.

Charlie’s redemption is challenged by the very environment that once facilitated his downfall. Paris, the city of his former excesses, becomes a labyrinth of memories where each street corner reminds him of a past he yearns to escape in favor of being a present father to Honoria. Fitzgerald encapsulates this struggle in Charlie’s reflection, “I spoiled this city for myself. I didn’t realize it would be so hard to come back to it” (Paragraph 28). Here, Charlie acknowledges the difficulty of revisiting the scenes of his past life, underscoring the enduring impact of former choices on the quest for redemption. Marion, Honoria’s aunt and caretaker, additionally questions his recovery and his intentions, refusing to believe he has changed.

Fitzgerald does not allow Charlie a triumphant redemption; instead, he presents his journey toward fatherhood with Honoria as a continuous process. The story’s conclusion leaves Charlie’s future ambiguous, reflecting the uncertain nature of personal transformation: “There wasn’t much he could do now except send Honoria some things; he would send her a lot of things tomorrow. He thought rather angrily that this was just money—he had given so many people money” (Paragraph 278). This admission reveals the immense effort required to overcome one’s history and the difficulty of personal change and shows his willingness to put forth all the effort necessary to achieve his goal of being present in Honoria’s life.

The Haunting Power of the Past

In “Babylon Revisited,” the past exerts power over the present, as vividly portrayed through the protagonist’s constant battle with the remnants of his former self, which at times is represented by other characters in the story, the story’s settings, and the devices Fitzgerald uses in the narrative. The theme is poignantly expressed in Charlie’s first encounter with Lorraine and Duncan, who are described as “[s]udden ghosts out of the past” (Paragraph 102). His past is not passive; it actively seeks him out, refusing to be relegated to memory alone.

The specter of the past is manifest in the Parisian setting, once the playground of Charlie’s hedonism, now a stark reminder of his follies. The city’s transformed ambiance post-crash mirrors Charlie’s own attempts at transformation. The once vibrant Ritz Bar, now subdued and foreign, becomes a symbol of Charlie’s estranged relationship with his past. Fitzgerald poetically captures this sentiment when he describes Charlie as, “curious to see Paris by night with clearer and more judicious eyes than those of other days” (Paragraph 52). This attention to one’s former perception of a place that once felt like home underscores the haunting power of the past and its ability to alter one’s connections with familiar spaces.

The story’s use of flashbacks is a structural device that reinforces the theme. Through glimpses into Charlie’s tumultuous past with Helen, Fitzgerald underscores the lasting impact of bygone days on Charlie’s present, as when Charlie recalls the fight that led to Charlie locking Helen out “in wild anger” (Paragraph 200). This flashback highlights the insatiability of Charlie’s former life. These memories are not passive recollections but active participants in the narrative, shaping the narrative’s presentation of Charlie’s current predicament.

The haunting power of the past also manifests in the words of characters that populate Charlie’s world. Lorraine Quarrles, an acquaintance from his past life, materializes in Paris and brings with her the promise of a return to old habits. Her letter tempts Charlie with its casual reference to bygone revelries: “Couldn’t we get together some time today for old time’s sake?” she asks after recollecting that “[w]e did have such good times that crazy spring, like the night you and I stole the butcher’s tricycle, and the time we tried to call on the president and you had the old derby rim and the wire cane” (Paragraph 213). Lorraine’s references to her shared past with Charlie contrast sharply with Charlie’s efforts to distance himself from it, highlighting the persistent intrusion of the past into the present.

The Fragility of Personal Reform

In “Babylon Revisited,” Fitzgerald explores the precarious nature of recovery and reform and the ease with which one can revert to old patterns. This manifests specifically in Charlie’s efforts to overcome his alcohol addiction. Charlie’s personal reform is depicted as a delicate endeavor, underscored by the knowledge that his resolve could shatter at any moment. The narrative captures this tension in Charlie’s cautious approach to his past indulgences, particularly his relationship with alcohol. When Lorraine remarks, “Charlie, I believe you’re sober,” she suggests his former indulgence in alcohol (Paragraph 108).

The fragility of Charlie’s reform is further illustrated by the skepticism he faces from those around him. His sister-in-law Marion embodies the doubt that shadows Charlie’s every step toward change. Her reluctance to believe in his transformation is evidenced when she questions, “How long are you going to stay sober, Charlie?” (Paragraph 158). This interrogation by Marion reveals the vulnerability of Charlie’s position, as his past indiscretions cast long shadows over his present efforts to be a better man.

The narrative is rife with moments that test Charlie’s resolve. His disciplined approach to alcohol is emblematic of his attempt at self-reform. In stark contrast to his past indulgences, Charlie sets boundaries for himself, asserting, “I haven’t had more than a drink a day for over a year, and I take that drink deliberately, so that the idea of alcohol won’t get too big in my imagination” (Paragraph 150). This daily ritual becomes a barometer for his progress, highlighting the fragile nature of his sobriety and the constant vigilance required to maintain it.

When Lorraine and Duncan suddenly arrive at Lincoln and Marion’s house to visit Charlie, they embody the return of his personal demons, that Charlie physically tries to remove from his presence. When Duncan explains why they are there, Charlie responds by trying to push them away, like the past he is trying to forget, “as if to force them backward down the corridor” (Paragraphs 233, 234). The physicality of the word “force” exemplifies the effort needed in the face of something as fragile as reform.

Fitzgerald’s portrayal of Charlie’s alcoholism present personal reform as a fragile process. Instead, “Babylon Revisited” presents reform as an ongoing struggle, a constant negotiation between past impulses and future aspirations. The story suggests that reform is not a fixed achievement but a continuous endeavor, subject to the ebb and flow of life’s circumstances and the strength of one’s character.