Babylon Revisited and Roman Fever Term Paper

Babylon Revisited and Roman Fever

In both the short stories "Babylon Revisited" by F. Scott Fitzgerald and "Roman Fever" by Edith Wharton the main characters are American who have become disenchanted with their home country. Each leaves their homeland behind in order to retrieve something that they cannot get in the United States, either adventure or a child or the ability to forget the past. Neither of the main characters, Charlie Wales in the former and Alida Slade in the latter, is a particularly nice person. As a matter of fact, both characters are rather reprehensible in the ways that they acted in their youths and have tried to abandon their responsibilities and the repercussions of their past behaviors. In the end, both characters are forced to face the mistakes of their past and in that moment have to understand that the choices made long ago will continue to affect them long into the future. Although both are responsible for the outcome of their stories, it would seem that Charlie is more to blame for his current unhappiness because he could see the potential ramifications for his choice and Alida Slade could not have possible foreseen how her choices would later impact her life.

While in Rome, Alida Slade and her friend Mrs. Grace Ansley, travel with their daughters Jenny and Barbara respectively. Mrs. Slade informs Ansley of the last time that they were in Rome, when the two women were both in their youths. Once upon a time, the two women had both been enamored of the same man, Alida's fiance named Delphin.Grace was quite taken with Delphin, but there was no doubt that it was Alida who he loved and who he would marry. Out of spite for her friend's crush on Delphin, Alida played a rather horrible and cruel trick. She wrote a letter to Grace, supposedly from Delphin, wherein it was suggested that the two meet at the Coliseum in Rome. It was hoped that if Grace were left at the Coliseum, waiting for a man who would never come, then she would get over her affection for Delphin and no longer serve as a hindrance in the engagement. Grace is upset at this revelation, but unbeknownst to Alida, Grace had responded to that long ago letter. The nonexistent rendezvous which was supposed to humiliate Grace backfired. Delphin and Grace actually did meet up at the Coliseum and, it is suggested, Grace's daughter Barbara was a direct result of that one meeting. Alida, in trying to perhaps rectify a past wrong or more likely trying to cause some pain to her friend and also rival, causes herself pain. From now on, she will always have to wonder if Barbara is the daughter of her husband and that she is responsible for Delphin's infidelity. Had she not contrived to harm Grace, the two never would have had that liaison and it is likely that they would never have consummated their mutual attraction.

Alida's actions were bad and her pain is palpable, and absolutely she is responsible for the pain she now….....