Alas Babylon Critique :: essays research papers

Critique Alas Babylon, by Pat frank, is a story that revolves round the actions of a single idea, survival. This is reflected in his choice of the title in itself. It is a phrase that is repeated several times in the book, and brings a sense of uneasiness each time. These words come from a part of the â€Å"Revelations of St. John, which describes the decadence of Babylon and the evils that surrounded it at the time (Pg.14-15).† The characters in this book, Mark, and Randy Bragg, began using this phrase from a preacher that they used to listen to as kids. â€Å"Randy and Mark never forgot preacher Henry’s thundering, and from it, they borrowed their private synonym for disaster, real or comic, past or future (Pg.15).†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There is such a great pattern of impending death and destruction that awaits each character, which a city like Babylon is a perfect comparison to their world in which they live in. Babylon was once a city of many achievements and wonders, proving that they were far ahead of their time. This makes one wonder if it is possible that we are on the same path. â€Å"Sometimes Preacher Henry made Babylon sound like Miami, and sometimes like Tampa†¦(Pg.14)†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The phrase in its self could mean that we have at last reached our point of no return, and that there is no way back, it seems like such a solemn and definite statement that there can be no way out, when Mark says to Randy, ‘But if you hear â€Å"Alas Babylon,† you’ll know that’s it,(Pg.16)’ he means it as a last resort for help or great destruction is coming. Mark knows that there is no choice but to prepare for war, and a message that strong can only be expressed by words that significant.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There couldn’t have been a better way to describe what the brothers were feeling at the time, two words ‘Alas, Babylon.’ The title was taken from a text that had been read and reread, and had given many interpretations. In the bible, the name Babylon comes with a association of power and strength. Pat Frank wanted to convey that same feeling to the readers, so he used a city that couldn’t be mistaken for anything else. Only few other events in history were as memorable as the fall of Babylon, so this means it has to be notorious.