Humans have existed for about six million years, evolving, creating, learning and making society what is is today. Nothing in the world would be explainable or creatable, without curiosity. In society, we see high levels of technologies developed from years and years of discovery. We have good discoveries like, highly developed entertainment, transportation, and communications. However we have very many dangerous discoveries, including, climate change, our own political ideas, and weapons. The story “By the Waters of Babylon” by Stephen Vincent Benét portrays the idea that too much knowledge can be dangerous. By describing what the world would look like if too much knowledge was reached, Benét uses, allusion, setting and imagery to accurately …show more content…
Stephen Vincent Benét provides us the image of the Place of the Gods by writing, “Very great they were, and wonderful and broken-broken in the time of the Great Burning when the fire fell of the sky” (Benét 718). On hand, Benét doesn’t just state that the Place of the Gods was broken and wonderful, but gives the reader insight on how the place came to be. By saying , “Great burning when the fire fell of the sky” (IBID), the reader gets the hint that the world was destroyed by a nuclear bomb (one of world’s most highly developed technologies). Another example setting can be seen explaining that too much knowledge can be dangerous, is the time when the narrator arrives at the Place of the Gods. The narrator only went to the Place of the Gods in order to gain knowledge on the past and when the narrator arrives, he gets a feeling of fear “...when I came to the Place of the Gods, I was afraid, afraid” (Benét 718). The feeling of fear not only burrows inside of him because he reached the Place of the Gods, but as he also reaches the place of knowledge. Which he knows is dangerous. The final way setting is used the carry out the theme that too much knowledge is dangerous, is when the priest is traveling in the Place of the Gods. The priest looks at a signs a finds that he, “...can read letters, but not understand these. They said UBTREAS...” (Benét 719). The letters “UBTREAS” are actually a part of The s(UBTREAS)ury Building in New York. The fact that the sign had been broken down into 7 letters, tells us that New York had gotten bombed or destroyed. The world must’ve gone into a massive cold war (war of ideas and knowledge) and caused each other to turn on another. Setting, gives the reader a good insight on what happened to the future due to the immense knowledge we have. Benét not only uses allusion and setting to support
Knowledge can be the key to success and can lead people to happier life. However, there are some instances that you can not gain any more knowledge because of how it would change your whole life. The drive of wanting more and more knowledge is best portrayed through two well -known books. In Mary Shelley’s, Frankenstein, and in Daniel Keyes, Flowers for Algernon, both the creature and Charlie are ostracized by society because they are different from everyone else but this distinction gave way for distinct fallouts because of their quest for knowledge beyond their reach to achieve happiness.
What is the you thoroughly understand the term “allegory” and that you can discuss “Babylon Revisited” as an allegory?—This question is garbled and does not make sense.
The setting of the story shows how knowledge of the truth can lead to the destruction of a civilization. The story is set in a futuristic world and in a primitive civilization (Benet 318). The story, as we know it, has been destroyed by the overuse of technology and diminished the human race. The reason of such atrocity appears to be nuclear war. The current civilization has been impaired by the effects of these nuclear destructions. The locations where the nuclear warfare hit are known as the Dead Places. It is forbidden to go there and no man has ...
When drastic times occur and sweep one of everything they own, do they have a plan of action? Will they be prepared for a life without power, resources, and stability? Many times when people are faced with this situation they find themselves unprepared and unable to live in such conditions. They lose the connections with the world, the water they drink is likely to get contaminated, and the scarcity of goods is a threat to themselves and anyone left alive. Everywhere around them there is death and destruction leaving them isolated in their own dystopia. Pat Frank’s Alas, Babylon illustrates a nuclear bomb simulation. In such a way, he gives the readers a taste of isolation and survival needs when facing such drastic times. So the question is: how does one survive in the isolation left behind from a nuclear war?
...ere watching the actual God. In this work, the events and nouns in nature symbolize the presence of God; whether it is beautiful and giving such as the pear tree, or destructive and vengeful such as the hurricane. Many events of the book revolve around the weather and the climate, the seasons, and it shows that religion is open-minded, and that it can be interpreted in many different forms.
As the high priest’s son he himself wanted to become a good priest but to become one he had to look at the place of gods with his own eyes.
The “Babylon Revisited”. Short Fiction: Classic and Contemporary. 6th ed. of the book. Ed.
In life, one must realize that it is impossible to be perfect and so there are always going to be things that one will regret. Modernist author, F. Scott Fitzgerald, in his short story, "Babylon Revisited", tells the story of a man who has made many mistakes in his life and is living with these regrets and trying desperately to bring his life back together. In the story, Fitzgerald draws heavily upon the current events of the world he is living in and uses the present to depict the past.
Mary Shelley brings about both the positive and negative aspects of knowledge through her characters in Frankenstein. The use of knowledge usually has many benefits, but here Shelley illustrates how seeking knowledge beyond its limits takes away from the natural pleasures of known knowledge. She suggests that knowledge without mortality and uncontrolled passions will lead to destruction. Victor and his monster experience this destruction following their desires and losing self control. Walton, on the other hand, becomes of aware of the consequences and is able to turn back before it’s too late. Shelley also suggests that without enjoying the natural pleasures of life, pursuing knowledge is limited, but how can knowledge be limited if it is infinite?
In the essay “The Allegory of the Cave,” Plato addresses how humans generally do not pursue knowledge. Most humans are satisfied with what they already know and do not want to expand their knowledge. Plato uses simple examples to help the reader understand his logic on why humans do not expand their knowledge.
“The Hills Like White Elephants” and “Babylon Revisited” are two different stories but still have many similarities. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Babylon Revisited is a story that is very similar to what he himself went through in his life. Ernest Hemingway’s The Hills Like White Elephant is a story that has to do with the tough decision a couple will have to make that will either make or break their relationship.
When Jerusalem fell to the conquering Babylonians in 587 BC, most of what was important to the Hebrew people was gone. They lost their holy city, the Temple was destroyed, and the Davidic monarchy ended (Beasley 221). Following the destruction of Jerusalem, the Babylonian king, Nebuchadrezzar, deported most of the population to other cities, including Babylon. These exiles remained there for about fifty years until the Persian forces, under king Cyrus, took the city of Babylon in 539 BC. The Persian policies concerning captured and exiled peoples were quite different than those of the Babylonians, and because of this King Cyrus allowed the exiles to return to Jerusalem in 538 BC to rebuild the city and the Temple.
Robert Walton, an Artic explorer, demonstrates the idea of knowledge as “dangerous” through his letters to his sister. He shows determination while on his quest, but it is glory that he seeks the most. Walton states, “I shall satiate my ardent curiosity with the sight of a part of the world never before visited, and may tread a land never before imprinted by the foot of man”(8). The statement implies that Walton seeks “dangerous” knowledge; the type of knowledge that only God possesses. Although he wants glory, he refuses to do whatever it takes to get it. Walton expresses that by saying, “I am going to unexplored regions, to “the land of mist and snow”; but I shall kill no albatross, therefore do not be alarmed for my safety” (15). Although Walton seeks glory or forbidden knowledge, he is aware that it comes with consequences that he is not willing to face. He has no interest in betraying people or upsetting nature to get to the level of greatness that he wants. Upon...
The pursuit of knowledge can lead to a humans destruction and awareness. The pursuit of
Science has played a significant role in the development of society. Other world views, such as Hum...