What is the exposition of "By the Waters of Babylon"?

Exposition refers to the introduction of background information that provide a reader with an understanding of setting, characters, or context. In Stephen Vincent Benét's short story, "By the Waters of Babylon," the exposition sets up the premise of the protagonist's life in a post-apocalyptic world.

The opening of the story establishes the rules of this land, which was once part of the civilized world, but has since been rendered ruined. The narrator, John, explains his position as the son of a priest and outlines some of the laws that have been established in this place. People are not permitted to travel east, to cross the river, to go to the Place of the Gods, or to go to the Dead Places" (unless searching for metal). These rules are described as being "well made"; they are created to protect the living from the "spirits" and "demons" that dwell in those regions. 

All of this is significant because it sets up the reader to understand why John's spiritual quest is so dangerous; John plans to travel to the Place of the Gods, despite the forbidden nature of this task. The rest of the story follows this journey and John's eventual discovery of "the place of New York" and his new convictions that human beings must re-construct their civilization. 

In literature, the exposition is the introduction of certain details to the reader. In a typical plot chart the exposition comes first, and it is followed by the rising action, the climax, the falling action, and the conclusion. The exposition, then, is the part of the story where the characters are introduced, some background is explained, and the setting is described.

Unfortunately, the exposition of "By the Waters of Babylon" is incredibly vague. My students do not like reading this story because it is so confusing at first. The reader has no real idea where the story occurs geographically or even whether or not the story is taking place in the past or in the future. The only definitive detail that the exposition contains is that the story's protagonist is named John. His father is a priest, and John is in training to be a priest, because he held some metal and didn't die.

As John discovers things, the reader discovers more details about the setting. The story takes place in the far future, and the location is in what is now New York.

The story's exposition is found in the details that the author uses to reveal where and when the story takes place. Based on the narrator's observations, the reader is able to infer that he is actually in New York City. For instance, he sees a statue of George Washington, but all he sees of the name is the "ASHING." He sees the subtreasury building, but all he sees of the name is "UBTREAS." He also sees the Biltmore Hotel, and remnants of modern technology such as hot and cold faucets. The reader is also able to infer that there has been a nuclear holocaust, based on the narrator's stories of a "Great Burning." This gradual revelation is the story's exposition.

What are three important quotes from "By the Waters of Babylon"?

I like the second sentence of the story for a good quote.

It is forbidden to go to any of the Dead Places except to search for metal and then he who touches the metal must be a priest or the son of a priest.  

There is so much mystery to the quote because it is placed so early in the story. What are the Dead Places? Why is it forbidden? What's up with the metal phobia, and why can priests touch it? What's great about the quote is that the story slowly answers all the questions it poses and relates them to John. He is the son of a priest and trains to become a priest. The metal must have been loaded with radiation from the "Great Burning," and the Dead Places are former cities that have been destroyed in a disaster or war.  

I also like this next quote.

It is better to lose one's life than one's spirit, if one is a priest and the son of a priest.

John is saying he would rather die trying to follow his dreams and passions than live knowing he didn't try. That thought gives him the courage to cross the Hudson into the former New York City.

The story closes with this next quote. 

At least, we make a beginning. And, when I am chief priest we shall go beyond the great river. . . We must build again.

"By the Waters of Babylon" is a depressing story. This final quote ends the story in a positive and uplifting way, though. Readers get the feeling that John is the right leader to begin the rebirth of learning in his people.

What are some interesting facts at the beginning of "By the Waters of Babylon"?

As "By the Waters of Babylon" opens, we learn about the narrator's life from his perspective. We find out that he is the son of a priest in what appears to be a primal culture. He tells us that his people hunt but that many "Dead Places" exist that people are forbidden to enter unless they are priests or the sons of priests. The narrator alludes to a "Great Burning" and to fact that his people gather metal from the dead places.

While the narrator, a young man just coming of age, places his life within the context of gods, spirits, and superstitions, the forbidden and the allowed, modern readers would pick up clues that suggest that the narrator's people are remnants of a more advanced society and that they have survived a holocaust. The idea of a great burning, places that are unsafe to go, and the existence of remnants of metal to be gathered by this Stone Age people suggest a nuclear war has occurred sometime in the past.

We also learn that the young narrator has qualities that set him apart as special among his people. Not only is he the son of a priest, he is the one son who is especially unafraid to face the perils of the dead places. He has been raised by his father with extra strictness, which indicates he will have a special task to achieve. All of this primes us to look forward to the story that will unfold.