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Essay / The Relevance of F. Scott Fitzgerald's Babylon Revisited Today
In F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story, “Babylon Revisited,” the theme seems to be transformation and redemption. Charlie received a wake-up call when the stock market crashed and he was, or it was alluded to, in treatment for alcoholism. He returns to Paris, the scene of his crazy party days, to pick up his daughter. Charlie has transformed his life in a very positive way. He stopped drinking heavily and partying. He explains this to his sister-in-law as a way to make amends and get his daughter back. Everything seems fine, but Fitzgerald makes us wonder if Charlie has changed. In Paris, he continues to wonder about the places that remind him of memories of his past. He also gives his brother's address to the bartender at the Ritz, where the story begins and ends, who leads two of his drunken friends to his door. He doesn't remember how they found him, but it was a setback nonetheless. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay I believe the theme here shows us that yes, we are capable of changing and redeeming ourselves, but it is up to us to decide whether or not we're going to make it last and how much we're going to do it for ourselves. Charlie was well on his way to fixing his life and getting his daughter back until he let his judgment falter and he regressed slightly. The title of this short story represents Charlie's wild, extravagant, and sinful days. The term Babylon comes from the Bible and refers to the city of Babylon which was known for such behavior. For Charlie, Paris is his Babylon that he revisits. Although he has left his sinful lifestyle behind, that doesn't mean the memories don't exist. Fitzgerald gives a religious tone to this story in the title and with the mouths of the two cafes. Charlie stands there in his sin city, looking at the Cafe du Ciel and the Cafe de l'Enfer. Maybe these two signify the choices Charlie must make, the direction he wants to take his life. The theme and title of this story remain prevalent today. Every living person goes through a stage of transformation and redemption at least once, if not several times. And in these times of change in our lives, we are all haunted by our past. Everyone's sins are different, and the magnitude of what is wrong is also different, but we always face temptations and reminders of the parts of us we are trying to change. I believe this story is relevant now and for years to come.