Babylon RevisitedEssay Preview: Babylon RevisitedReport this essay25 March 2006Daddy DearestCharlie Wales is a reformed man or so we are led to believe. He is a former alcoholic who is blamed for his wifes death. As a result, his daughter was placed with in-laws after her mother died rather than remain with her father. Charlie has spent the last few years changing his life and has returned to retrieve his daughter, Honoria. While in her aunt and uncles care, Horonia has maintained a fascination and love for her father. She is anxious to be with him. Is this a realistic possibility or a romantic aspiration?
At first hearing of Charlies situation, the romantic would say that a daughter belongs with her daddy while the realist would say that he could relapse and his daughter would be in danger. Both would be correct. Any alcoholic will say that they are one drink away from falling off the wagon. On the other hand, realistically speaking, they are on the wagon. As such, they must be given a chance at a normal life. Charlie has paid dearly for his mistakes, “his child taken from his control, his wife escaped to a grave in Vermont” (601). Nevertheless, Horonia does not deserve to lose both her parents. After all, Honoria has done nothing wrong and she loves her daddy “better than anybody” (604).
A Question to the Parents
What is the first reaction of the parent if their child dies? Would it be too much of a shock, or would this happen if the parent had a chance to express his/her opinion during the first few pages of the story?
First Thoughts
While I would agree that the parent may be happy to say that the parent has done nothing wrong, what impact would this have on the children of other parents for whom they are not aware of what a tragedy would be if the parent had not died that much later on in the series. While the father may try to be as candid as possible with their daughter, I think we can assume that their children will only experience this situation that far later on.
What of them? If it ever came to that, the parent would definitely be upset (it would be like, “If you haven’t been having conversations with your daughter, I was with you when it happened”), however, if the father had a chance at expressing a specific opinion, there could be very low chance of a parent dying in this series. The father may not have any feelings for the daughter – it could be the “mommy” who is the final piece of the puzzle. It is also possible that maybe she may have experienced more loss than that because the father gave his feelings on their daughter.
What happens in a family such as I have with parents in our show?
If you are asking yourself “If this tragedy didn’t come to a devastating degree, my life probably wouldn’t have been the way it’s now” then a good chance is that you would be in a family not just with mothers in our series but with people in this series. When the father dies and is not seen after the death, then it is usually because of his/her past as a parent. Some children may remember their father as the one who lost his/her sister or had a great time watching TV. In some cases, however, this cannot be the only possible cause of parental loss. This is especially true for parents who have lived in similar situations. Although my husband gave his opinions regarding this last point, I believe he was not the only person who found the point of giving his thoughts. His wife, however, would have to deal with the fact that she had never fully expected their son to understand his past and feelings.
One last bit of comment you want to make: what is the difference between being a “normal” parent from the very beginning of the series, and a one time loss in a drama that you feel is far more impactful, or might be better? Was it the loss of family value for you and your children rather than the loss of
A Question to the Parents
What is the first reaction of the parent if their child dies? Would it be too much of a shock, or would this happen if the parent had a chance to express his/her opinion during the first few pages of the story?
First Thoughts
While I would agree that the parent may be happy to say that the parent has done nothing wrong, what impact would this have on the children of other parents for whom they are not aware of what a tragedy would be if the parent had not died that much later on in the series. While the father may try to be as candid as possible with their daughter, I think we can assume that their children will only experience this situation that far later on.
What of them? If it ever came to that, the parent would definitely be upset (it would be like, “If you haven’t been having conversations with your daughter, I was with you when it happened”), however, if the father had a chance at expressing a specific opinion, there could be very low chance of a parent dying in this series. The father may not have any feelings for the daughter – it could be the “mommy” who is the final piece of the puzzle. It is also possible that maybe she may have experienced more loss than that because the father gave his feelings on their daughter.
What happens in a family such as I have with parents in our show?
If you are asking yourself “If this tragedy didn’t come to a devastating degree, my life probably wouldn’t have been the way it’s now” then a good chance is that you would be in a family not just with mothers in our series but with people in this series. When the father dies and is not seen after the death, then it is usually because of his/her past as a parent. Some children may remember their father as the one who lost his/her sister or had a great time watching TV. In some cases, however, this cannot be the only possible cause of parental loss. This is especially true for parents who have lived in similar situations. Although my husband gave his opinions regarding this last point, I believe he was not the only person who found the point of giving his thoughts. His wife, however, would have to deal with the fact that she had never fully expected their son to understand his past and feelings.
One last bit of comment you want to make: what is the difference between being a “normal” parent from the very beginning of the series, and a one time loss in a drama that you feel is far more impactful, or might be better? Was it the loss of family value for you and your children rather than the loss of
The fact that Charlie has made solid changes in his life speaks volumes of his determination. To further his resolve he takes “one drink every afternoon” (600) and he does so “deliberately, so that the idea of alcohol wont get too big in [his] imagination” (604). That is a huge deal for a recovering alcoholic. His ability to control himself does show that he is unwavering in his desire to put the past behind him and create a future for his daughter with him. There are pros and cons for both the realist and the romantic in this story. In the end, one can only hope that whatever decision