By the Waters of Babylon Group

Question:

klm8
klm8
Student
High School - 10th Grade

In "By the Waters of Babylon", what does John mean when he says,  "it is better to lose one's life than one's spirit"?

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Posted by klm8 on Sunday December 7, 2008 at 9:55 AM and tagged with by the waters of babylon, characters, john, life, quote, spirit.

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  1. ms-mcgregor Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    John considers his spirit the essential part of him. It is a combination of his beliefs, values, and conscience. John is saying that it would be better to die than be untrue to your values and act against your beliefs. So, in order to obey what his spirit is telling him, he violates the laws of his people and visits the Place of the Gods. Even though this action is physically dangerous because of the Forest People and the fact that there may be something physically harmful in the place of the Gods, he believes he must obey his spirit which is telling him to go.

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    Posted by ms-mcgregor on Sunday December 7, 2008 at 1:16 PM