Read the passage from "By the Waters of Babylon.”
Nevertheless, it was strange. There was a washing-place but no water—perhaps the gods washed in air. There was a cooking-place but no wood, and though there was a machine to cook food, there was no place to put fire in it. Nor were there candles or lamps—there were things that looked like lamps but they had neither oil nor wick. All these things were magic, but I touched them and lived—the magic had gone out of them. Let me tell one thing to show. In the washing-place, a thing said "Hot" but it was not hot to the touch—another thing said "Cold" but it was not cold. This must have been a strong magic but the magic was gone. I do not understand—they had ways—I wish that I knew.
Which conflict does the narrator face in this passage?
A. character vs. character, because his father’s words cause him to question his actions
B. character vs. nature, because he must battle the elements of weather
C. character vs. self, because he is struggling to understand how the gods lived
D. character vs. society, because he must battle against the teachings of the gods
Answer (2)
In the given passage from 'By the Waters of Babylon,' the narrator faces a conflict of character vs. self. This conflict arises because he is struggling to comprehend the remnants of a civilization that once utilized technology far beyond his understanding.
Understanding the Passage:
The narrator describes encountering a 'washing-place' without water, a 'cooking-place' without wood or fire, and 'lamps' without oil or wicks.
These observations are puzzling to him because they suggest technology he cannot explain, which he refers to as 'magic.'
Character vs. Self Conflict:
This type of conflict involves a character's internal struggle or lack of understanding.
The narrator wishes to understand the ways of the gods, but he cannot due to the technological gap and the loss of knowledge about these ancient innovations.
Narrative Context:
The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world where the protagonist is exploring the ruins of a lost civilization.
The protagonist's journey involves trying to understand and piece together the history and technology of the past.
Significance:
The internal conflict embodies a broader theme of the story about the loss of knowledge and the yearning to understand a more advanced civilization.
Therefore, the correct multiple-choice option for the conflict the narrator faces is 'character vs. self, because he is struggling to understand how the gods lived.'
The narrator in 'By the Waters of Babylon' faces an internal conflict of character vs. self as he grapples with understanding the remnants of advanced technology from a lost civilization. He feels puzzled by objects that appear magical yet have lost their function. This struggle embodies the broader theme of loss of knowledge and the desire for understanding the past.
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