The Consequences of His Past - A look at Babylon Revisited

We always pay for the consequences of our actions even though we often do not realize when they will be, or what the price may be. Even a year and a half later after the stock market boom, Charlie is still confronting his consequences head on. Charlies’ constant struggle with alcoholism has made a profound effect on his personal life, relationship with his family, and his strive to regain custody of his daughter. It is evident with his trip to Paris that Charlie is still battling alcoholism by first visiting an old refuge, the Ritz bar.

During the 1920’s, the Ritz bar was a trendy hot spot, where Charlie and his old drinking friends consorted together. At the bar while reminiscing of old times with the bartender, Alix, Charlie jots down his in-laws address on a note that he leaves for his old drinking friend Duncan Schaeffer. Whether this was an unconscious or conscious decision on Charlie’s part, it shows that he is still reluctant to let go of his past. Even Charlie’s’ philosophy of just having one drink a day to keep drinking in proportion makes you question his ability to continue to keep it under control. Fitzgerald wrote the story in a way that shows Charlie’s detachment with reality. While Charlie is engaged in a conversation his mind will wander to distant memories, always seeming to relate to his experiences associated with alcohol. His past is beginning to consume his purpose for coming to Paris, to regain connection with his family.

Charlie so desperately wants to regain custody of his 9-year-old daughter, Honoria, whom he has not seen since he was in the sanitarium. When Alix, the bartender, cried out “Oh-h! You have a little girl?” it was evident that Charlie did not speak about his daughter during any of his frequent visits in his drunken days (Sipiora 7). When Charlie first sees his daughter, she is very enthusiastic about their reencounter. One can see Charlie’s regret in regards to missing time with his daughter in his statement to her. “I want to get to know you,” he said gravely. “First let me introduce myself. My name is Charles J. Wales, of Prague” (Sipiora 9). While reclaiming his relationship with his daughter, Charlie also had to find a way to gain approval from his in-laws, Marion and Lincoln Peters.

During the first visit to the Peters’ home, Charlie mentions that his income now is bigger than when the stock market boomed. During conversation, he declared that his drinking only got out of hand during this boom. This begins the questioning of Charlie’s character, as to whether he will go back to his old days now that he has regained his fortune. There is a bitterness that the Peters’ hold against Charlie, for when he was throwing money around in his drunken days they were watching theirs and struggling to get by. When Charlie mentions his newfound philosophy on his drinking, Marion struggles to put aside her prejudice feelings. Just as his attempts to persuade the Peters to let Honoria go live with him were about to succeed, Duncan and Lorraine come crashing in. Charlie seems outraged on this intrusion in his life, yet he was the one that was ultimately responsible. If he had not left the letter for Duncan at the bar then Charlie and his daughter would be heading back to Prague for the start of their new life. Since he never released his drunken past, he has ruined for the time being any hopes to regain custody of his daughter in the eyes of Marion. As he came closer to the life that he wanted, Charlie began to realize his old drunken hangouts and friends no longer allured him

On a trip back to his hotel one night Charlie was walking by an old meeting place and popped his head inside, but immediately thought, “You have to be damn drunk” (Sipiora 8). Wishing that he had instead spent more time and money on the cheap restaurants versus the five course meals, he felt remorseful that he did not get a real opportunity to experience Paris. It is not a question whether Charlie was regretful of his past and his genuine interest in turning his life around but whether he could turn it around and release his past to do so. In the end, he is back to where he started, in the Ritz bar. Fitzgerald leaves us wondering if Charlie will be able to maintain his willingness to change or if he will resort back to his old ways since he failed in his attempt to gain back his life.

Sipiora, Phillip. “Babylon Revisited.” Reading and Writing about Literature. Pearson Education, Inc, 2002. 6-19.