It is a warm December day in 1960, in a small Florida town of Fort Repose. On river road in Fort Repose, Florence Wechek, the local Western Union telegraph manager, is watching the morning news. Tempers are raising between the Soviet Union and the United States, the Russians are launching more Sputnik satellites, but as Florence leaves for work, she is more worried about her neighbor, Randy Bragg, who she thinks is spying on her. Randy is a descendant of the founders of Fort Repose, he is a lawyer who failed as a politician and now makes his living off his family's property, and a little bit of legal work. As he drinks his morning coffee, he receives a telegram from his brother, Mark Bragg, an officer in the Air Force. The telegram asks to meet him at the local Air Force base at noon, Mark also says that his wife Helen and his two children are flying into Orlando from their home in Omaha that night, and at the end of the telegram has, "Alas, Babylon." Randy is frightened "Alas, Babylon" is a secret code word for the family. It means that Mark believes that nuclear war is going to happen. Mark is sending his family to Fort Repose because he believes the town will be safer than Omaha, where the Strategic Air Command base is located.
Later that day Randy finds the Orlando Air Force base empty. Paul Hart, an ace pilot and a friend, tells him that most the planes are on standby near the Soviet Union, since they will have little warning if war breaks out. Mark arrives, and Randy greets his brother, and Mark leads Randy into a back room. He tells him that the Russians are trying to take over the Mediterranean, and that they are willing to start a nuclear war. Then Mark gives Randy a check for five thousand dollars, and tells him to cash it and buy necessities. Mark is going back to Omaha, and SAC, and he begs Randy to take care of his wife and children, Peyton and Ben Franklin. The two brothers say goodbye, and Randy begins the long drive back to Fort Repose.
Later that day Randy finds the Orlando Air Force base empty. Paul Hart, an ace pilot and a friend, tells him that most the planes are on standby near the Soviet Union, since they will have little warning if war breaks out. Mark arrives, and Randy greets his brother, and Mark leads Randy into a back room. He tells him that the Russians are trying to take over the Mediterranean, and that they are willing to start a nuclear war. Then Mark gives Randy a check for five thousand dollars, and tells him to cash it and buy necessities. Mark is going back to Omaha, and SAC, and he begs Randy to take care of his wife and children, Peyton and Ben Franklin. The two brothers say goodbye, and Randy begins the long drive back to Fort Repose.
I had the exposition of the book and it basically tells you that the United States and the Soviet Union are on the brink of a nuclear war. the begaining of this book also focuses on developing the setting and characters. Alas, Babylon, was published in 1959, at the height of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States. The two superpowers were then competing for control of the world stage through strategic posturing, threats, and accumulation of high-technology weapons.
The one thing that the author did in the first 2 chapters was the way he foreshadows and symbolizes "Alas Babylon" he explained what it means in the bible, and tells us that it is randy and Marks family code word to expect a nuclear war.
The one thing that the author did in the first 2 chapters was the way he foreshadows and symbolizes "Alas Babylon" he explained what it means in the bible, and tells us that it is randy and Marks family code word to expect a nuclear war.
"'Urgent you meet me at Base Ops McCoy noon today. Helen and children flying to Orlando tonight. Alas Babylon.' 13,14" this is probably the most important quote in the first two chapters. What it tells Randy is something that he never wanted to come out of Marks mouth or writing. This start the up rising of the book and unfolds multiple characters and Tasks that Randy has to complete before Helen and the kids get down to Orlando.
"Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour is thy judgment come. 25" This quote explains what the title of the book means, and puts some background on the title. It also explains to Florence What Randy's telegram from Mark meant. or she tried to decode it but she couldn't pin point it because of it being a Morse code for the Bragg's family.
"...Goodbye Randy... 37" I think this is a very significant quote, due to the level of emotion that is going on between the two brothers. It basically tell the reader that the war is going to happen and the bombs are going to be dropped and mark is not going to survive the blasts. It foreshadows a lot of whats going to happen next in the book and it brings you closer to randy and mark because of the emotion between each other.
"Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour is thy judgment come. 25" This quote explains what the title of the book means, and puts some background on the title. It also explains to Florence What Randy's telegram from Mark meant. or she tried to decode it but she couldn't pin point it because of it being a Morse code for the Bragg's family.
"...Goodbye Randy... 37" I think this is a very significant quote, due to the level of emotion that is going on between the two brothers. It basically tell the reader that the war is going to happen and the bombs are going to be dropped and mark is not going to survive the blasts. It foreshadows a lot of whats going to happen next in the book and it brings you closer to randy and mark because of the emotion between each other.