1. How Many Miles to Babylon?
Cultural Context

2. Money/Social Class Huge divisions between the wealthy and the poor
Alec has no interest in or awareness of money because he has always had it
Alec has a hugely privileged background – a big house, fine furniture, servants, land, piano lessons and a private education, a European tour
This is in contrast to Jerry – bare feet, boots too big for him, hand me down trousers, leaves school early to work, joins the British Army for money

3. Money/Social Class
Class divisions are rigidly and ruthlessly enforced by Alicia
Key Moments
Piano teacher fired for his poverty
Alicia won’t allow Alec to be friends with Jerry- ‘that boy from the village’
Frederick agrees that it is an ‘unsuitable relationship in many ways’
Jerry is realistic about it – ‘we can’t be friends – your crowd wouldn’t allow it – neither would mine’

4. Money/Social Class Even in the army they are treated differently
As predicted by Jerry, Alec is automatically made an officer
Still has servants and better accommodation
Offers to serve as a private but Glendenning tells him not to be ridiculous

5. Money/Social Class
Glendenning tells Alec to mix but later tells him not to talk to Jerry
There is to be no fraternising
Even when condemned to death they are treated differently
Jerry’s belt and shoelaces are taken
Alec is allowed keep his as he is ‘an officer and a gentleman’

6. Role of Women Very male dominated text
Alicia is the only female main character
Jerry’s mother is never seen but is portrayed negatively – seems obsessed with money and survival
Alicia is a very strong, dominant character
The piano teacher, Jerry and Frederick all comment on her beauty

7. Role of Women - Key Moment
Alicia forces Alec to go to war so as to hurt Frederick
Tells Alec that Frederick is not his father
Leaves him ‘dispossessed’
Willing to destroy another persons sense of self to get what she wants
Utterly ruthless
Passive aggressive
Never raises her voice – cold, calculating, controlling

8. Power Highly Hierarchical Society
Power in the hands of the few – use it harshly
Frederick should be head of the household
He is the landlord – has servants and a steward to do his bidding
Alicia uses her husbands power to control and dominate others
Alex is merely a pawn to Alicia – a way for her to hurt Frederick
She takes Alex away on a tour of Europe to stop him growing closer to Frederick
She forces Alex into the army to hurt her husband

9. Power France – The army is by it’s nature rigidly hierarchical
The officers and men live separate lives
Alex and Jerry are not allowed fraternise
All resistance to power is ruthlessly suppressed

10. Power - Glendinning Glendinning strikes Alex Tells Alex that the men
are cattle
Cogs in a machine
Key Moment
Forces Alex to lead the firing squad which will kill Jerry

11. Love and Marriage
Bleak depiction of marriage Alicia and Frederick are both trapped in a toxic relationship
Their marriage is a ceaseless enmity full of coldness and hatred
Key moment
Frederick tells Alex how painful his marriage is
‘I hope you never feel the humiliation of living with someone who is completely indifferent to you’
Frederick relishes the fact that Alicia will grow old and will lose her beauty