By The Waters Of Babylon John Character Analysis

Is what you know all a lie or have you found the truth? In the story “By the Waters of Babylon” the narrator, John, discovers the truth about the civilization of the gods. John is the son of a priest and is being held to high expectations. John sets off on a journey that will change everything he has ever known. John finds the truth of the gods. John was very curious and wanted to learn more. Knowledge was what drove the people in his society. John said, “My knowledge made me happy--it was like a fire in my heart” (Benét 35). John saying this reveals two things about him. The reader can see he is engaging and wants to learn. This also shows knowledge is his motivation in life and is something he desires strongly. Another reason, John is the son of a priest and is going to become one eventually. John will be the teacher of all society. He controls what they see as the truth.

This vision would become his quest and would be his passage into priesthood. Later, John was traveling the Dead Places pursuing his dream he began to learn new things. He arrived in the Place of the Gods which was forbidden to all. John said, “It is not true what some of our priests say, that it is an island covered with fogs and enchantments,” this is referring to the knowledge that old priests passed down to him and the other people in his society (Benét 175). John learned the land was not covered in fog, there were no howling spirits, and not all of the towers were