The Influence of the Past in Babylon Revisited Essay

Past Present

Everyones past contributes largely to whom they are today. Both positive experiences and negative experiences have a huge impact on the adults we become. In Babylon Revisited by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Charlie tries to regain custody of his daughter but due to his extreme past, he fails. Charlie tries to prove himself a responsible dad; however, the story seems to suggest that Charlie can never totally change because he can never escape the past.

Charlie has many regrets towards his past actions and behavior, especially those regarding his deceased wife, Helen. The events that occurred during his visit to Paris, however, were detrimental to his intentions. Charlie revisits Paris to try to regain custody of his daughter, Hanoria, from his sister-in-law, Marion. Marion dislikes Charlie and is hesitant to give back his daughter because she thinks he caused her sister's death.

He comes back and Paris was quiet and still. He was not really disappointed to find Paris so empty. But the stillness in the Ritz bar was strange and portentous. While in Paris, he tells the barman he doesnt want to drink. He stopped drinking because he wanted to get his daughter back and he needed to prove himself mature and stable enough to do so. No, no more, Charlie said, Im going slow these days. I think Charlie is a strong character. He is able to reform himself and stop drinking.

There is a strong bond between Charlie and his daughter, which is definitely advantageous to him. His daughter really likes him and would love to return home with him. Daddy I want to come and live with you. His hopes are rising; Marion is ready to give Honoria back to him. Suddenly, Duncan and Lorraine pop into the house. Duncan and Lorraine are ghosts from the past. It is always difficult to forgive and forget the past, especially when death is involved. It is the natural instinct of Man to find someone to blame for death. Marion already considers Charlie responsible for her sister's death. The appearance of Duncan and Loraine and their reference to Charlie's former state is no help in trying to win custody of his daughter. When Loraine said "I remember once when you hammered on my door at four A.M. I was good enough sport to give you a drink" completely shocked Marion. After, that incident it is difficult for her to trust Charlie. It confirms Marion's earlier statement that her sister had died because of Charlie's craziness.

I think it is wrong that Charlie is judged from the past and not the present. I think he merits a second chance. Marion completely overreacts at the sight of Loraine and Duncan. The world is full of different kinds of people and you can only account for yourself. Charlie cannot be held accountable for what Loraine does or says. I know it is always possible for us to fall back to our past sins especially when the past influences are still around, however I do not think what happens was enough for Charlie to be denied custody of his daughter. Lincoln, Marion's husband confirms this in the statement "I know this thing is not altogether your fault, but I can't have her go to pieces about it". This proves that it is not Honoria's interests that are being considered here but Marion's delicacy and her sickness. I have come to realize that when we do something wrong, we must pay for it one way or the other.

A past of a person will be always a part of him. He can never escape or ignore it, but he can learn from it and change himself. Every person has to learn how to use his/her unpleasant experience of the past as an advantage, to stay away from his past misdeeds, to build a bright future. Charlie made a bad mistake by hanging around Paris for a long time. His past caught up and ruined the hopes that he once had.