47 pages • 1 hour read
George Samuel ClasonThe Richest Man in Babylon
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1926A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapter 8Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 8 Summary: “The Walls of Babylon”
The warrior Banzar helps to guard Babylon’s city gates as the city is under attack from Assyrian armies. A panicked, elderly merchant asks Banzar for news about the enemy army, as he has a good view of their surroundings. Banzar reassures the man that Babylon’s walls will hold, and the enemy troops will not break through. A mother comes along and asks the same question, and again Banzar reassures her and tells her to go home to her sick husband. A small, frightened child approaches Banzar and he again promises her that the walls will keep her safe.
For weeks, the enemy unsuccessfully tries to breach Babylon’s wall, and Banzar watches the enemy troops being wounded and killed. Finally, Babylon’s forces let out a joyful cry and light the “flames of victory” in the temple (66). Babylon’s citizens rush from their houses and celebrate their victory and safety. Clason calls Babylon’s walls an “outstanding example of man’s need and desire for protection…It is just as strong as it ever was, but we have developed broader and better plans to accomplish the same purpose” (66). Clason compares today’s savings accounts, good investments, and insurance schemes to the protective walls of Babylon. He concludes his chapter with the statement, “We cannot afford to be without adequate protection” (66).
Chapter 8 Analysis
In this brief parable, Clason tries to capture the immense panic people felt while under siege in the ancient world. He describes the Babylonians as “white-faced and terrified” and watching with “hushed awe” (64) as their wounded soldiers are taken away. Clason characterizes the civilians as particularly confused and vulnerable, writing, “[a]round him unceasingly crowded the throngs of frightened citizens” who wanted to know if they could expect to live (65). The gruesome battle meant that the “slaughtered attackers piled up in heaps before the wall” (65). This vivid language helps the reader envision the stress and mayhem for civilians and soldiers alike as they try to survive a weeks-long attack. By comparing the walls of Babylon to modern-day financial protections, Clason draws parallels between ancient civilians and the modern reader, implying that without proper protection, any person will feel panicked and unsafe. In this analogy a person’s finances are always under siege from threats like poor investments, fraud, impulse spending, gambling, and any other forces that weaken one’s financial security. This comparison expands Clason’s theme of guarding your wealth and avoiding losses as much as possible.
