Babylon Revisited

“He was not really disappointed to find Paris was so empty. But the stillness in the Ritz bar was strange and portentous.”

The emptiness of Paris and the stillness of the Ritz bar are symbolic of the Jazz Age’s aftermath. The word “portentous” suggests a significant change, foreshadowing the sobering reality that Charlie must face. The Fragility of Personal Reform that Charlie experiences takes place in a city that is also in a period of recovery.

“I’m going slow these days.”

Charlie’s assertion of sobriety and control signifies his desire for change and redemption. This statement is a direct contrast to his past, indicating character development and the internal conflict between his former self and who he strives to become.

“‘It was time enough,’ he agreed.”

This admission of Charlie’s encapsulates regret and the acknowledgment of the damage done in a short time, highlighting the story’s introspective nature and the Modernist preoccupation with time.

“It was late afternoon and the streets were in movement.”

This description of the Parisian streets employs the literary device of personification to demonstrate the idea that Paris, despite its past, is moving forward with or without Charlie’s dedication to reform. The world around Charlie pushes on, and he must decide whether or not to move forward alongside it.

“We were a sort of royalty, almost infallible, with a sort of magic around us.”

Here, Charlie reminisces about the past, illustrating nostalgia and the lost grandeur of the Jazz Age. Fitzgerald uses the histrionic language of “royalty” and “magic” to emphasize the opulence of the era but also its intangibility: In an age of financial ruin and international monarchies overturned by revolutions, these “royal” years are as impossible as “magic.” Charlie’s connection to the past also shows his complex relationship with his former self.

“She’s your child. I’m not the person to stand in your way.”

Marion’s capitulation in the custody debate over Honoria Wales underscores the shifting power dynamics in her relationship with Charlie. Marion releases Honoria in this way, resigned and tired of fighting, not out of happiness or acceptance of Charlie. Though it seems Charlie has gotten what he wants, everything has not been mended.

“He was thirty-five, and good to look at.”

This description of Charlie is a poignant reflection of his inner turmoil and sense of displacement, common elements in Modernist literature. His outward appearance did nothing to show his internal battles and struggles, and he’d have to fight for Honoria despite how seemingly put-together he may be.

“The night I locked her out—.”

Charlie’s truncated confession about the night he locked out his wife serves as a moment of unresolved tension and symbolizes the unspeakable guilt and pain that haunt him. It also shows that he is willing to speak on the subject in order to move past it, but this opportunity is denied by Marion.

“I’m here for four or five days to see my little girl.”

This quote reflects Charlie’s priorities and the central conflict of the story, which revolves around his attempt to reunite with his daughter. It demonstrates the fact that he is not in Paris to behave as he did before when in the city. He is not planning on seeing her while he’s in Paris, but is rather there specifically for her.

“He greeted Marion with his voice pitched carefully to avoid either feigned enthusiasm or dislike, but her response was more frankly tepid, though she minimized her expression of unalterable distrust by directing her regard toward his child.”

This description of Charlie’s interaction with Marion indicates her distrust of Charlie and her desire to care for her sister’s child, Honoria. His careful manipulation of his voice shows the fragile line he walks with Marion and his need to impress her, despite her assumptions.

“‘I can’t,’ said Charlie sharply.”

This short, emphatic declaration from Charlie when faced with the prospect of reverting to his old ways underscores his determination to change. The Fragility of Personal Reform is a present theme throughout the narrative as Charlie repeatedly overcomes the obstacles and temptations placed before him.

“While you and Helen were tearing around Europe throwing money away, we were just getting along.”

Lincoln’s words highlight the stark contrast between Charlie’s previous financial excesses and the more prudent, modest lives of others. Though Lincoln is generally more accepting of Charlie and willing to give him a chance with Honoria, he also is clear that Charlie’s past offenses have affected him. He is honest with Charlie about his complex feelings toward him.

“She just remembers one night.”

Charlie’s recognition of Marion’s focus on his past mistakes illustrates The Haunting Power of the Past. This passage reflects the dramatic irony that Fitzgerald creates in the story to make Charlie a partially sympathetic figure; he (and therefore the reader) is privy to more memories than other characters.