26 pages • 52 minutes read
Stephen Vincent BenétBy the Waters of Babylon
Fiction | Short Story | YA | Published in 1937A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Dead Places
In “By the Waters of Babylon,” the Dead Places represent the distant past that was forgotten and turned into legend by the Hill People. History is important in this story because it is the basis for the rules and spiritual practices in the community even though they seem to know very little truth about it. The Dead Places are one of the first things the reader learns is forbidden in the community of the Hill People. Though these places are mysterious and prohibited for the characters in the story, descriptions quickly reveal to the reader that these spaces are simply the normal homes and residences of people that have been abandoned in this postapocalyptic fictional world. These Dead Places, houses and areas that were once occupied, often contain decaying bodies, rotting food, and other dangerous items, which may contribute to the logical reasons behind the spiritual rules about avoiding these areas.
Place of the Gods
The Place of the Gods symbolizes the power of myth and legend to inspire fear. This setting is the most elusive and forbidden area of all for the Hill People. They believe it to be the former dwelling place of the gods, much like Mount Olympus in Greek mythology, and the location of the Great Burning, which destroyed them. The Hill People fear the Place of the Gods because of the stories they have created about it, including mythical ideas such as that they will die if they even go near it. Rather than learning from the past and growing, the Hill People’s myths and legends keep them fearful and stagnant. As John explores the Place of the Gods, familiar landmarks reveal to the reader that it is in fact the familiar and famous city of New York. He also learns, by the end of the story, that it wasn’t gods that lived there but humans just like him.
The Great River
In this story about a young man’s Coming of Age, the Great River symbolizes both the protagonist’s growth from childhood to maturity and the transition from innocence to wisdom. John describes the river as “magic,” saying that “no man of [his] tribe had seen it, not even [his] father, the priest” (3). The river, though elusive and mysterious, is known as a source of immense power and even danger to the Hill People. Furthermore, the river separates the Hill People from the Place of the Gods, a legendary place possessing information about their past. For John to understand the truth of his history, he must travel down the dangerous river.
The river also separates John from his childhood and carries him into his new identity as an adult and a priest. Before embarking on his journey over the river, John sings out, “I am John, son of John” (4). However, moments before he gets off his raft, he sings, “I am a priest and the son of a priest!” (5). John’s shift in identity from being a child to being a priest occurs only because of the strength he gains by crossing the river.
