By The Waters Of Babylon Essay

Technology has evolved throughout history. While many advances have been positive, such as cell phones and computers, there have also been numerous negative impacts. For example, the invention of nuclear weapons has cost many innocent people their lives. Medium, television shows, movies, and works of literature, prove this statement. Both “By the Waters of Babylon” and “There Will Come Soft Rains” illustrate the negative impact of advanced technology through the futuristic settings of New York and California. “By the Waters of Babylon” by Stephen Benet, introduces negative ideas about technology through the destruction of futuristic New York. At first, the reader is unclear as to whether the story is set in the past or the future. However, during his journey, John comes to a sight of destruction that can only be a result of futuristic technology. As John nears the Place of the gods he observes, “very great they were, and wonderful and broken- broken in the time of the Great Burning when fire fell out of the sky” (Benet 319). In this moment, it becomes clear that advanced technology has destroyed the Place of the gods. The Great Burning is most likely a series of bombs or a nuclear explosion that occurred. Without advances in technology, the Place of the gods might not have been destroyed, which would have lessened the dangers of John’s journey. …show more content…
Through the futuristic settings of New York and California, short stories “By the Waters of Babylon” and “There Will Come Soft Rains” prove this idea. Both stories show the destructive nature of technology through nuclear weapons that killed many innocent people. While these stories are set in the future, the modern world has already developed technology that has caused mass destruction and taken lives. This leaves the reader to wonder what state the modern world will be in in a matter of