A general theme of "By the Waters of Babylon" is Exploration.
This story is a short story of a young man who lived in a "post-apocalyptic" community. He decides to leave the village where he lives and sets out to explore the world. His biggest struggle is against his own fears and real or imagined external threats. He also understands that the only way to conquer his own fears and become a better person is to explore the world around him, and his responses to the world around him.
