By The Waters Of Babylon By John Benet Summary

The Truth About Knowledge

How many times have you realized that the knowledge you gained was all of a sudden a lie? In the story, “By the Waters of Babylon” (by Stephen Vincent Benet) this realization happens to the narrator John. He finds out that even his greatest knowledge that he has learned in his lifetime is not always the absolute truth. This realization has lead to the thought that not all knowledge that people devour is the truth.

As we read through the narrative, “By the Waters of Babylon” we learn the importance of knowledge to the main character John through his thoughts as the narrator. John says this about knowledge, “Nevertheless, my knowledge and my lack of knowledge burned in me – I wished to know more.” (Benet p.312) John wants to learn as much as he can because to him, at this point in the

They were just normal human beings. “That is all of my story….they had been men, neither gods nor demons. It is great knowledge, hard to tell and believe” (Benet p.321) Even John knows this truth is hard to believe, but he thinks more about how hard it is going to be telling everyone back home. “Truth is a hard deer to hunt….you may die of the truth.” (Benet p.321) This thought from John shows how hard he thinks this truth about the Gods may hit everyone back home. “It is better that truth should come little by little.” (Benet p.321) Knowing quite well the effects of knew truth John decides this as the best choice of action. If not, the knowledge that everyone knew to be true would come to be too great of a shock for them to handle. “Perhaps, in the old days, they ate knowledge too fast” (Benet p.321). Now understanding the power of knew knowledge, John believes this is one of the downfalls that brought down this city. He wonders if they believed all knowledge that they learned when not all of it was true. This new knowledge could have then lead to lies and