How long must one pay for past mistakes? This question clearly has no definite answer. It is a question that Charles (the main character) has to face. In "Babylon Revisited" Fitzgerald writes about an individual who is trying to escape his past in order to live a better life. Fitzgerald has attempted to portray his characters as believable and as having free choice in their lives.
             Charles Wales, a businessman from Prague returns to Paris to retrieve his daughter, Honoria. In attempting to win back his daughter, Honoria he also tries to restore "his own honor". Fitzgerald is depicting the character as wanting the best of both worlds. His deceased wife, Helen represents his good conscience. He sees her encouraging him to continue on the right path. She also agrees that Charles is making the right decision in seeking to keep Honoria with him.
             Marion, the sister in-law represents his unforgiving conscience. She taunts him by telling him that he does not deserve to be trusted again. She holds him responsible for his wife's' death and does not believe he will make a good father for Honoria. His friends, Duncan and Lorraine represent his bad conscience trying to lure him back to his old irresponsible life. They reappear several times throughout the story as ghosts of his past decadent lifestyle.
             The main character is being pulled in different directions by the forces of good and evil. As Charlie he is bound to his past life of irresponsibility while as Charles he searches for a new beginning. His plan to begin a new life with his daughter is representative of his attempt to improve his character. In leaving his brother in-laws address did he intend to rekindle old friendships? Is his "one drink a day" practice a way of holding on to his past? I think Fitzgerald is trying to tell us that the character is wavering between choosing his past or present. However, Fitzgerald believes that the stren...