“By the Waters of Babylon” is a Modernist approach to fears that haunted the mid-20th century. Inspired by the bombing of Guernica by fascist forces on April 26, 1937, the story delves into the themes of The Destruction of War and The Pursuit of Knowledge. The writer uses allusions to the Babylonian exile and the Book of Revelation to create an atmosphere of loss, yearning, and anxiety regarding the end of days.

Structurally, the protagonist’s adventure follows the pattern of the hero’s journey. John contends with various dangers, including the river and the wild dogs, and his reward is his discovery of the gods’ identity. His quest develops the theme of The Pursuit of Knowledge. John’s journey shows that information is not confined to the books that initially sparked his love of knowledge. He learns through the firsthand experience of his travels and travails, and he also gains insight through mystical experiences, such as the vision that shows him New York in its former glory. John compares knowledge to “a fire in [his] heart” (1). The simile is apt because destruction results when knowledge grows out of control, as was the case for the humans John’s people revere as gods.