Babylon Revisited: Scott Fitzgerald's Reflection of Life Through Wealth and Poverty - Essay Sample

Introduction

The works of literature serve as a mirror, reflecting on the various aspects of life affecting people. Babylon Revisited is a short story adhering to this critical element of literature. The story depicts the turbulence of life revolving around money, wealth, extravagance and how they affect families. Scott Fitzgerald uses the lives of the characters Charlie, Marion, Honoria and Helen, among others to bring out the central themes of wealth and poverty, familial ties, substance abuse through alcoholism, and its associated home and family collapse. Thus, Fitzgerald offers essential educative information on the aspects of life. The paper provides an analysis of the story magnifying on the primary themes of the story and how they relate to contemporary society.

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Fitzgerald presents Charlie Wales as a recovering alcoholic who together with his American friends spent most of their time and wealth living extravagant life in Paris. The high level of Charlie’s alcoholism indirectly resulted in the death of his wife, Helen. As a result, his sister-in-law had to live with his daughter Marion while Charlie was away. The extravagance and alcoholism nature of Charlie led to the collapse of his family, leaving his young daughter without a mother. Fitzgerald, in the story, attempts to outline the problems of alcoholism to families (Fitzgerald 9-20). Substance abuse, especially alcoholism, is a common societal challenge affecting numerous families today. Charlie’s alcoholic pasts lead to the break of his family after the death of his wife and the sister-in-law taking custody of the young girl. However, Charlie, upon realizing the damages that the trend causes to his family, seeks redemption. He strives to get his child back and become a staunch businessman focusing on his personal development.

Money and wealth are one of the major themes addressed in the story. Fitzgerald states that the conducive environment created by the stock market trades in Paris led to the emergence of wealthy and successful Americans. However, most of this wealth ended up in flames and ashes due to the extravagance nature of the people as well as the collapse of the stock market in 1929 (Fitzgerald 10). Charlie notes the massive changes that took place upon his return to Paris. Charlie and his American friends acquired instant wealth which they misused in alcohol and extravagance. On his return to Paris, Charlie notes several changes have taken place including his friends going broke and leaving Paris. The collapse in the economy and the stock market and the associated impacts on money and wealth of Charlie’s American friends are essential lessons reflecting on modern life. The changes in financial and economic life presented by Fitzgerald in the story is a wake-up call for the responsible use of money and wealth. In regrets, Charlie reflects on his past life where he indulged in alcohol and overspending. However, he realizes the damages that this kind of lifestyle causes to his family. Therefore, he resorts to being a responsible businessman and seeks to establish the lost familial ties with his daughter through reconciliation and to acquire legal custody.

Fitzgerald uses Charlie in the story to bring out the concept of change in society. Charlie undergoes numerous changes, including a change in spending, becoming responsible, caring for his daughter, and maintaining a sober mind. At one point, the author brings Duncan and Laurraine, two of Charlie’s friends from the past to demonstrate the changes that he had acquired in his life (Fitzgerald 17-20). Charlie notes that his friends are still in the same position that he had left them for several years. The friends also realize that Charlie has experienced different life development phases which makes it impossible for them to rhyme. Fitzgerald emphasizes that change is eminent in a person’s life through these changes. Charlie’s life is a perfect reflection of contemporary society where people acquire sobriety and become responsible individuals.

Conclusion

Conclusively, Fitzgerald’s Babylon Revisited examines the numerous aspects of life, including recapturing and retracing the steps of a lost person in reconstructing his life. The story uses the twisted life of Charlie, who attempts to harmonizing his past by correcting the mistakes that he made. The story focus on the teachings of money and wealth, alcoholism and familial ties. Charlie works hard to rise from alcoholism, makeup with his sister-in-law and seek custody of his daughter. He proves that he is completely in control of his life by dropping his alcohol urge and becoming a serious businessperson, thereby proving he has undergone the essential life’s changes.

Works Cited

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. Babylon revisited: and other stories. Simon and Schuster, 2008. http://www.houstonbookclubs.org/stories/Firzgerald_BabylonRevisited20.pdf