Duncan Schaeffer's Babylon Revisited

In the short story, “Babylon Revisited” the main character, Charlie Wales, cannot escape his own past. This story takes place during the roaring 1920’s, also referred to as the Jazz age. It reflects the culture of the 1920’s as well as the repercussions of the Stock Market Crash of 1929. During this time, most people spent their money in bars or for other entertainment. Everyone was trying to forget about their problems and they just wanted to have fun. These people did not care at all what others thought of them. They were selfish and lazy. However, after the stock market crash people began to realize that their lives were also crashing. Their lives were heading downhill and they needed to change the way they lived. Most people tried to clean up their act and quit drinking alcohol. Change though, is never easy and it …show more content…
Lorraine is still living the party lifestyle and tries to get Charlie to go out with her. She reminds him of the crazy times they had a few years ago. Lorraine and another companion, Duncan Schaeffer show up at his house drunk. Charlie refuses to run around Paris with his old friends drunk. Those days are over for him, but they still did happen. It’s a very good sign that he is able to say no to his peers, but it’s still not enough for Marion. Marion is upset that Charlie is even talking to those people. She becomes even more worried and now there is no chance that she will let him take Hornia. Charlie realizes that it is not easy to be forgiven for the mistakes he made. He knows what he did to his wife was wrong, but eventually they would have to let it go. Charlie thinks, “He would come back one day; they couldn’t make him pay forever. But he wanted his child, and nothing was much good now, besides that fact. He wasn't young anymore, with a lot of nice thoughts and dreams to have by himself. He was absolutely sure Helen wouldn't have wanted him to be