Babylon Revisited

THESIS 1

1. “Babylon Revisited” is a beautifully delicate exploration of success, failure and redemption.

2.1. Success is examined through the actions of Charlie and his wife during the height of their wealth.

“you not even working toward the end, and getting richer and richer”

“thousand-franc notes given to an orchestra for playing a single number, hundred-franc notes tossed to a doorman for calling a cab”

“He had never eaten at a really cheap restaurant in Paris” “champagne dinners and long luncheons”

"I spoiled this city for myself.”

2.2. Failure is unfolded in Charlie’s loss of wealth and family.

“the days came along one after another, and then two years were gone, and everything was gone, and I was gone”

“his child taken from his control, his wife escaped to a grave in Vermont.”

“Helen whom he had loved so until they had senselessly begun to abuse each other's love, tear it into shreds.”

“They were "reconciled," but that was the beginning of the end”

“He suddenly realized the meaning of the word "dissipate"--to dissipate into thin air; to make nothing out of something.”

2.3. Redemption is explored through Charlie’s desire to raise his daughter and control his apparent alcoholism.

“I take one drink every afternoon, and no more”

“His whisky glass was empty, but he shook his head when Alix looked at it questioningly.”

“they couldn't make him pay forever”

“First, we're going to that toy store in the Rue Saint-Honoré and buy you anything you like. And then we're going to the vaudeville at the Empire.”

"Daddy, I want to come and live with you," she said suddenly. His heart leaped; he had wanted it to come like this.

“Keep your temper, he told himself. You don't want to be justified. You want Honoria.”

“He made plans, vistas, futures for Honoria and himself”

“It was warm here, it was a home, people together by a fire.”

“There wasn't much he could do now except send Honoria some things; he would send her a lot of things tomorrow.”

3. F....