John Vincent Benet's By The Waters Of Babylon

In “By the Waters of Babylon” John must overcome his fear in everything, especially himself by going through the sacred task a priest’s son must go through in order to become a Chief Priest.

Stephen Vincent Benet shows Johns strengths through his actions in “By The Waters of Babylon.” John must show that he is not afraid of the Forest People by preaching at them from the Dead Place. But he must not anger the gods. John says “I travel upon the God-roads and am not afraid. E-yah! I have killed the panther, I have killed the fawn!” John is showing his valor to prove to the Forest People and to the gods that he has no fear; he can survive the Dead Places and is willing to prove it.

John must show full respect for all and every God there is, or they might be punished. “His name was ASHING...I thought it wise to pray to ASHING, though i do not know the God.” This shows John being faithful with his beliefs. He prays to ASHING even though he has never heard of him. Shows that they are strict and take everything they’ve learned seriously. He has more power than anyone to befriend the gods and also to visit them in the Dead Places. His father is a priest, and that makes him a priest’s son. Only those with those kind of luxuries can go within and touch the forbidden metal and survive.

“All the same,when I came to the Place of the Gods, I was afraid, afraid.” John is scared of what the may do.

What if he saw the Gods, would they accept him, or just end his life right there? No one knows what the Gods are capable of because no one has ever been in the Dead Places. He was also afraid of the Forest People and he hoped that they’d be scared of him as well because they would mean they wouldn’t do a thing to harm John. No worse than the Gods can. John must conquer his fears towards the Gods, towards the Forest People, towards himself. Or John will never survive in the Dead Places and never as Chief

Priest.

"If I went to the Place of the Gods, I would surely die, but, if I did not go, I could never be at peace with my spirit again." John goes into the Place of the Gods, the Gods will show whether he is worthy or not the continue. Whether he is suitable for the role as a Chief Priest. If John goes into the Places of the Gods and he dies, the town would move on. Even though he is the first to leave to go to the Dead Places, they will all know that it was because he was not worthy enough for him. Another Priest’s son will have to try again and hope that he doesn’t perish like John has done on his journey.
“By The Waters of Babylon” by Stephen Vincent Benet is so compelling because of its language that captures the dignity, simplicity and repetition of oral tradition ; For the Hill People, the ancient writings are “Sacred” and religion is bound up with translation and interpretation.