Summary
Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis offers a portrait of American middle-class life in the 1920s, critiquing the period’s emphasis on conformity and materialism. The novel follows George F. Babbitt, a real estate broker in the fictional city of Zenith, and his routine pursuit of success. Though published in 1922, Babbitt continues to resonate with readers for its sharp analysis of the American Dream and its complexities.
Plot
Babbitt follows George F. Babbitt, a 46-year-old real estate agent in the fictional city of Zenith. Despite outward success and middle-class stability, Babbitt experiences dissatisfaction and seeks meaning beyond consumerism and social norms. This leads to introspection and discontent with his seemingly perfect life.
Babbitt's existential unease grows through his friendship with Paul Riesling, whose troubled life reflects Babbitt's own aspirations and fears. Paul’s imprisonment for attempting to murder his wife deepens Babbitt's crisis. Seeking change, Babbitt has an affair with Tanis Judique and explores ideas that contrast with his conservative background.
Babbitt's divergence from social expectations disrupts his business and personal life, resulting in isolation. When his wife, Myra, becomes ill, he returns to conventional values, rejoining the "Good Citizens' League" and finding solace in conformity. Though he initially explores individualism, he ultimately accepts societal expectations, underscoring themes of conformity and the challenging quest for authenticity.
Characters
George F. Babbitt: The titular character, Babbitt is a middle-aged real estate broker in Zenith who represents the materialistic and conformist traits of the 1920s American middle class. His journey through dissatisfaction and the search for meaning forms the core of the story.
Myra Babbitt: George’s wife, Myra represents conventional domestic ideals. Despite sharing a life together, their marriage lacks real communication and passion.
Paul Riesling: Babbitt's closest friend. Paul’s unhappiness and subsequent actions serve as catalysts for Babbitt to question societal norms after Paul faces severe consequences for an act of violence.
Tanis Judique: A widow who brings an element of rebellion and excitement into Babbitt’s life. She becomes his partner in an extramarital affair, disrupting his otherwise structured world.
Ted Babbitt: George’s son, who pursues independence and personal happiness over societal expectations. His father eventually admires and supports his decision.
Verona Babbitt: George and Myra’s daughter, and oldest child. Verona holds progressive ideals and challenges the traditional views within the family dynamics, adding to the modernist narrative.
Zilla Riesling: Paul’s wife, Zilla highlights the strains and societal pressures of unhappy marriages. This reflects the emotional costs of adhering to conventional roles.
Themes
Conformity vs. rebellion
Sinclair Lewis analyzes the tension between conformity and rebellion through George F. Babbitt in Babbitt. George represents 1920s middle-class America's conventional values, focusing on social status, consumerism, and routine. Society links success to wealth and conservative ideals. His friend Paul Riesling's imprisonment causes George to rethink these values. He starts to question social norms and his role within them.
George's brief rebellion includes an affair and interest in progressive politics. However, his fear of social isolation limits these actions. When his wife falls seriously ill, family responsibilities push him back toward societal norms. The narrative shows how rigid social constraints hinder true self-expression, leaving George aware of his life's emptiness yet unable to escape it.
Critique of the American Dream
Babbitt critiques the American Dream by examining the divide between societal success and personal satisfaction. The protagonist, George F. Babbitt, reflects this American ideal as a successful realtor with a stable family life and social status. However, his life is dominated by conformity and material wealth, resulting in a sense of unfulfillment. Babbitt's pursuit of consumerism and societal approval diminishes his individuality and self-exploration.
Babbitt experiences disillusionment and a longing for deeper meaning. In discussions with his friend Paul Riesling, Babbitt acknowledges an internal void, confessing dissatisfaction despite owning everything considered necessary and desirable. This personal struggle supports Lewis's critique of the American Dream. It suggests that true fulfillment is not found in material success, but in meaningful relationships and self-discovery.
Satire of middle-class life
In Babbitt, Sinclair Lewis uses satire to critique middle-class American values by focusing on consumerism and conformity. Through George F. Babbitt, Lewis presents the typical American businessperson living a socially dictated life. Zenith, a fictional Midwestern city, represents common desires for status symbols like modern homes and flashy cars. These offer Babbitt only brief satisfaction. The novel details Babbitt's routines and material pursuits, exposing the superficiality of perceived success. One event shows Babbitt's temporary support for a liberal politician, a brief rebellion against conformity, but he soon retreats due to societal pressure. This demonstrates the overpowering influence of conformity on individuality. Babbitt's story provides a satirical look at societal pressures and the vacuous pursuit of the American Dream.
Quick facts
Babbitt critiques the emptiness and superficiality of the American Dream in the 1920s.
The protagonist, George F. Babbitt, is a 46-year-old real-estate broker in the fictional city of Zenith.
Sinclair Lewis became the first American Nobel laureate in Literature in 1930, partly due to Babbitt.
The novel influenced the creation of Bilbo Baggins in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit.
'Babbitt' was adapted into films twice, in 1924 and 1934.
Lewis meticulously created maps and journals of the fictional city Zenith while writing Babbitt.
The novel popularized the term Babbittry to describe a conformist, materialistic lifestyle.
The character Paul Riesling's downfall triggers Babbitt’s rebellion against societal conformity.
Babbitt temporarily rebels against societal norms by embracing liberal politics and conducting an affair, but ultimately returns to conformity.
Despite initial mixed reviews, Babbitt became a bestseller and a cultural phenomenon.
Babbitt remains a relevant critique of materialism and conformity, reflecting issues still present today.
Film adaptations
Babbitt has two notable film adaptations. The 1924 silent film starred Willard Louis as George Babbitt. Filmmakers struggled to convey the novel's satire without spoken language. The 1934 sound film starred Guy Kibbee in the lead role. This version intensified elements such as Babbitt's affair and a failed real estate deal, adding melodrama. Each adaptation aimed to preserve the novel’s critique while adapting to the technical and cultural confines of its time.
About the author
Sinclair Lewis (1885-1951) was an American novelist known for analyzing social conventions. He wrote influential novels such as Main Street (1920) and Babbitt (1922). In 1930, he became the first American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. The Nobel Committee recognized him for his detailed art of description. His additional works include Arrowsmith and Elmer Gantry, which explore the complexities of American society.
