How does Charlie change in Babylon Revisited?
In returning to Paris, Charlie seems to be a changed man. He got sober after a stint in the sanatorium, began working again and recovered some of his wealth, and he now desires, above all else, to have a proper family and home in Prague, where he presently lives.
How does Fitzgerald characterize Charlie?
Fitzgerald also conveys Charlie’s great personal charm. Charlie is a physically attractive man, a quality that clearly affects Lorraine and possibly even Marion. He is also a winning, persuasive speaker, able to manipulate listeners without seeming to try.
What does Charlie tell Marion about his drinking?
‘ Marion spoke as if the phrase had another meaning for her” (Fitzgerald 1667). After Charlie describes his theory of taking one drink a day “so that the idea of alcohol won’t get too big in [his] imagination” he asks, “You see the idea?” (Fitzgerald 1665).
Which character in Babylon Revisited is very suspicious of Charlie?
Who is Marion in Babylon Revisited? Marion Peters is Charlie’s sister-in-law, and the legal guardian of his daughter Honoria. She despises Charlie, seeing him as an irresponsible alcoholic who not only made Helen unhappy in life but who also bears responsibility for her death.
Why does Charlie want to get Honoria back so urgently?
Why does Charlie want to get Honoria back so urgently? He wants to be her father again while she is still at an impressionable age.
Why does Charlie return to Paris in Babylon Revisited?
Charlie Wales has returned to Paris after a three-year absence in the hope of taking his nine-year-old daughter, Honoria, back to live with him in Prague. He remembers with regret that his former life in Paris was a life of dissipation and wildly extravagant spending.
What is Charlie’s Medicine in Babylon Revisited?
Thus, Charlie’s immoderate use of alcohol was instrumental in destroying his family, and is therefore also responsible for the suffering he continues to experience in “Babylon Revisited.” Importantly, Charlie’s recklessness was not limited to his use of alcohol.
What does Marion blame Charlie?
Charlie’s deceased wife Helen died a little over a year ago from heart trouble. At the time, Charlie was in a sanatorium having suffered a collapse. We learn that Charlie has a pretty bad relationship with his sister-in-law, Marion Peters, who blames him for her sister Helen’s death.
Why does Marion detest Charlie?
Marion Peters is Charlie’s sister-in-law, and the legal guardian of his daughter Honoria. Marion’s resentment of Charlie stems not only from his treatment of her sister, but also from his wealth and the lifestyle it allows him to lead, which she sees as an injustice because her own family struggles to get by.
Who are the main characters in Babylon Revisited?
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Babylon Revisited, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. The story opens with Charlie Wales, the protagonist, talking to Alix, the bartender at the Ritz in Paris.
How does Fitzgerald use contrast in Babylon Revisited?
Contrast plays a major part in Fitzgerald’s technique as he presents both Charlie and Paris as they were before the crash of 1929 and as they are at the time of the story. The language of the stock market adds a note of irony as Charlie applies it to the rise and fall of his fortune—both his monetary fortune and his fate in general.
What was the difference between Marion and Charlie in Babylon Revisited?
Marion barely tries to conceal her distaste for the extravagance of the now-disappeared Americans, whereas Charlie once again grows nostalgic. The brief exchange is evidence of a difference in class between Marion and Charlie, but also in their moral views of extravagance more generally.
How is Helen’s death presented in Babylon Revisited?
Helen’s death is presented from two different perspectives—Charlie’s and Marion’s. Her obvious jealousy and his remorse shift the balance in favor of support for Charlie and belief in his version of the story. Charlie sees the error of his former ways and the ephemeral nature of his life prior to 1929.