SURVIVOR: By the Waters of Babylon

Question 1: How does the character search for solace, purpose, and/or redemption in this story?
In the short story "By the Waters of Babylon," the main character John searches for a purpose because he is so restricted by the rules of his priests. He does not know what to believe in and wants to discover new things on his own. He goes against the rules of the priests and his own father to go on an adventure. He traveled to the three places that were against his peoples rules. John wanted to find a purpose, he wanted to learn on his own even knowing what the consequences would be, and do something that was different and unique that could possibly help his people. When he found the city he wanted to rebuild it and make it new. John realized that after his adventure it was a mistake. A mistake he would learn from and learn to appreciate what he has and follow the rules. By the end of the story John is looking for redemption because he knows his adventure to the forbidden places was wrong and he would or could be looked down upon it.

Question 2: How does the character's experience reflect the historical period in which his/her story is told?
At the beginning of the story you would think that the historical period would be around the 1800s to the 1900s because there were ridiculous rules and no technology. As the story progresses you learn more about John and his people. The rules that were put in place were for the good of the people. The priests or the ancestors of the priests had learned about the towns and the world that had become annihilated. Every person and animal had been killed by a nuclear bomb. It was a nuclear holocaust. We learn about the cities from John's adventures. When he goes into the city he finds a stone with the letters "ashing" written in the stone. In the city, John also finds huge buildings that are falling apart because no one is living or working in them. We can assume that the letters "ashing" stood for "Washington" but part of the letters had been destroyed. We can also assume that the city was New York because of the tall buildings and statues. There were many hints that helped the readers figure out which city John had visited. New York also gives us clues to where John and his people lived, obviously somewhere near New York but in the woodsy areas and a good traveling distance away.

Question 3: How does the character's experience in the story symbolize the theme of survival and the human spirit?
The character's experience in the short story "By the Waters of Babylon" symbolizes the theme of survival because even after a nuclear holocaust killed every known person living John and his people had survived and lived on nature and the few resources they had. Survival is a theme that was symbolized by John going against the rules of his priests and loved ones, knowing there was a possibility of death in store for him, but still continuing on his adventure to the forbidden lands. Again survival is a big part of the story because John travels to the forbidden places and survives when he would have thought he would die and the cities in a way symbolize death because they are run down and unoccupied. John and his people symbolize survival. The whole group and people lived through a nuclear holocaust and reproduced, showing death doesn't always conquer. This story is most likely something that could never happen because a nuclear holocaust means everyone would die. It is very unlikely, but a good story because it is different.