Babylon Revisited

“Babylon Revisited” contains examples of both situational and dramatic irony. Situational irony occurs when there is a discrepancy between what is expected to happen and what actually occurs and the outcome of a situation is the opposite of what one might expect, creating a twist or surprise for the reader. One of the most prominent instances of situational irony in the story is the reversal of Charlie Wales’s circumstances. Once a wealthy man indulging in the extravagances of the Jazz Age, he returns to Paris sober and financially diminished after the 1929 stock market crash. His past actions, particularly those involving his reckless lifestyle and alcoholism, have led to the loss of custody of his daughter, Honoria Wales. There is irony in the fact that he is now a reformed character, capable and desiring of taking care of his daughter, yet his past mistakes prevent him from doing so. This reversal—from a carefree, wealthy lifestyle to a sober, reflective existence fraught with loss and regret—is at the heart of the story’s situational irony.

Dramatic irony is also present in the story. Dramatic irony occurs when the reader knows something that a character in the story does not know. Dramatic irony occurs in the story through the reader’s awareness of Charlie’s past, which most of the other characters in the story do not fully appreciate or understand. The reader knows the depth of Charlie’s transformation and his sincere regret over his past actions, particularly regarding his late wife, Helen. This knowledge creates a sense of dramatic irony, especially in scenes in which characters like Marion, Helen’s sister, doubt his sincerity or judge him solely based on his past. The reader is privy to Charlie’s internal struggles and genuine intentions as other characters continue to misjudge him.