26 pages • 52 minutes read
By the Waters of Babylon
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Character Analysis
John
John is the protagonist and narrator of “By the Waters of Babylon.” He is a member of the Hill People, a community that lives in the wilderness outside of the ruins of New York City. John is expected to become a priest when he grows up, as his father is also a priest. Because of his spiritual heritage, he has magic powers that allow him to search for and touch metal in the Dead Places without burning up. However, John also must meet high expectations from his father and community because of his priestly heritage and destiny, such as needing to contain his fear and sadness. For instance, John says, “[W]hen I boasted or wept without a reason, he punished me more strictly than my brothers. That was right” (1).
John is a round and dynamic character, which can be seen in the way he transforms from being anxious and afraid to being a confident, strong, and powerful leader of his people. He begins the story as a fearful, timid child, but he becomes more confident as he grows up and makes use of his powers while helping his father and the other priests search for metal. John demonstrates inner confidence and strength when he tells his father he is ready to go on his journey, which is a rite of passage needed to become a priest. Furthermore, he reveals his confidence when he fearlessly attempts to complete his journey despite believing it might end in his death, proclaiming, “It is better to lose one’s life than one’s spirit, if one is a priest and the son of a priest” (4).
Throughout the story, John’s main motivation is The Pursuit of Knowledge. Even as he learns how to read the old books and harnesses his powers as a priest, he says, “Nevertheless, my knowledge and my lack of knowledge burned in me—I wished to know more” (2). He recognizes the power of knowledge, both in his own life and throughout history. When he finally learns the truth that the Place of the Gods was occupied not by gods but by humans, he realizes that their demise may have come about because “perhaps, in the old days, they ate knowledge too fast” (10). John’s courageous pursuit of knowledge propels his growth as a round and dynamic protagonist.
John’s Father
John’s father, the deuteragonist, is the only character John interacts with directly in the story. John’s father is a priest, making him an important spiritual leader in his community. One of the priests’ main roles is to collect metal from the Dead Places and bring it back to the community because, according to the Hill People’s legends, only the priests can touch metal without being burned.
John’s father is pleased that John is also destined to be a priest, but he has high expectations for his son because of this destiny as well. When John is a child, his father punishes him for expressing too much emotion, and he holds John to high standards in their priestly training. At the same time, John’s father takes great joy in guiding his son through his journey and often gives him wise advice. Before John departs on his journey, his father warns him, “Once I had young dreams. If your dreams do not eat you up, you may be a great priest. If they eat you, you are still my son” (2). His advice comes from a place of pride and love for his son rather than judgment.
John’s father does not develop or change much over the course of the story, making him a static character. His role is to support and guide John rather than make any discoveries himself. Still, he plays an important part in the resolution and the theme of The Pursuit of Knowledge by accepting his son’s discovery rather than condemning him for blasphemy: “The law is not always the same shape—you have done what you have done. I could not have done it my time, but you come after me” (9). John’s father welcomes his son’s revelation because he understands the importance of change and progress. He helps the protagonist become a strong, wise leader of the Hill People.
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