Arrowsmith
Summary
Published in 1925, Sinclair Lewis's Arrowsmith is a groundbreaking novel that explores the world of medical science and research. One of the first “scientific” novels, it follows the career of Martin Arrowsmith, a brilliant young doctor torn between pure scientific pursuit and the pressures of the medical establishment. The book won the 1926 Pulitzer Prize, which Lewis famously declined. Notably, Lewis collaborated closely with science writer Paul de Kruif in crafting the novel's scientific authenticity.
Plot
Martin Arrowsmith, a bright and scientifically-minded young man from the Midwest, embarks on a journey through medical school and various professional roles in the field of medicine. Along the way, he faces personal and ethical challenges, including romantic entanglements and conflicts between scientific integrity and practical demands. His dedication to pure scientific research often clashes with the expectations of his superiors and colleagues.
Arrowsmith's career takes him from a small-town practice to public health work, and eventually to a prestigious research institute in New York City. The novel's climax revolves around his discovery of a phage that destroys bacteria and his subsequent struggle with how to use it during a bubonic plague outbreak on a Caribbean island. Torn between scientific rigor and the urgency to save lives, Arrowsmith grapples with difficult decisions that challenge his principles.
Upon returning to New York, Arrowsmith is hailed as a hero but feels conflicted about compromising his scientific ideals. Despite being offered prestigious positions and a comfortable life, he ultimately chooses to abandon his career and family to pursue independent research in rural Vermont. The novel concludes with Arrowsmith rejecting societal expectations and personal relationships in favor of his unwavering commitment to pure science.
Themes
• Scientific integrity versus personal and professional compromise
• Idealism versus pragmatism in medicine and research
• The conflict between pure science and commercial interests
• Personal ambition and the pursuit of recognition
• The challenges of maintaining ethics in medical practice
• The tension between individual goals and societal expectations
• The struggle between dedication to work and personal relationships
Setting
Set in the early 20th century, Arrowsmith unfolds primarily in the fictional Midwestern state of Winnemac. The novel captures the era's burgeoning scientific advancements and the evolving landscape of American medicine. From small-town Elk Mills to the bustling metropolis of New York City, the story spans a diverse range of settings that mirror the protagonist's journey through the medical profession.
Arrowsmith takes readers through various locales, each representing different facets of the medical world. These include the rural practice in Wheatsylvania, North Dakota; the public health department in Nautilus, Iowa; an elite hospital in Chicago; and a prestigious research institute in New York City. The climax unfolds on a fictional Caribbean island, where Arrowsmith confronts a bubonic plague outbreak, highlighting the global reach of medical science during this period.
Throughout the story, Sinclair Lewis vividly portrays the contrast between rural and urban America, reflecting the nation's rapid industrialization. The changing settings serve as a backdrop to the broader themes of scientific progress, ethical dilemmas, and the tension between idealism and pragmatism in the medical field. The novel concludes in the backwoods of Vermont, symbolizing Arrowsmith's retreat from societal pressures to pursue pure scientific research.
Characters
• Martin Arrowsmith: The protagonist, a young doctor and scientist dedicated to medical research but often conflicted between pure science and practical concerns.
• Leora Tozer: Martin's first wife, a nurse who supports his scientific pursuits and accompanies him in his career moves.
• Max Gottlieb: Martin's mentor, a brilliant but uncompromising bacteriologist who inspires Martin's dedication to pure science.
• Gustaf Sondelius: A boisterous Swedish scientist who joins Martin in fighting the plague outbreak.
• Terry Wickett: A cynical fellow researcher who becomes Martin's friend and eventual research partner.
• Joyce Lanyon: A wealthy socialite who becomes Martin's second wife after Leora's death.
• Dr. Almus Pickerbaugh: The enthusiastic but shallow director of public health in Nautilus, who places a priority on publicity over science.
• Angus Duer: Martin's ambitious medical school classmate who prioritizes career advancement over scientific integrity.
• Madeline Fox: Martin's first fiancée, who values social status over his scientific pursuits.
• Dr. Roscoe Geake: A professor who encourages medical students to focus on making money rather than advancing science.
Quick facts
• Arrowsmith won the 1926 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, but Sinclair Lewis declined to accept the award.
• The novel is considered one of the first major “scientific novels” in American literature.
• Lewis was assisted in writing the book by science writer Paul de Kruif, who received 25 percent of the royalties.
• Arrowsmith was adapted into a 1931 film starring Ronald Colman and Helen Hayes, which received four Academy Award nominations.
• The fictional state of Winnemac, where part of the novel is set, appears in several of Lewis's other works.
• Lewis's father was a country doctor, which likely influenced his portrayal of medical professionals in the novel.
• The character of Max Gottlieb was inspired by real-life scientists Frederick George Novy and Jacques Loeb.
• Arrowsmith has been compared to A.J. Cronin's 1937 novel The Citadel, which also focuses on an idealistic young doctor.
• The book's portrayal of a plague outbreak has drawn comparisons to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Contrary to popular belief, the rock band Aerosmith did not take its name from this novel.
About the author
Sinclair Lewis
Sinclair Lewis (1885-1951) was a groundbreaking American novelist who became the first writer from the United States to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1930. Born in Minnesota, Lewis achieved widespread fame and commercial success in the 1920s with satirical novels that offered biting critiques of American society and culture, especially small-town life and middle-class values. His most renowned works include Main Street (1920), Babbitt (1922), Arrowsmith (1925), and Elmer Gantry (1927).
Lewis's writing was known for its vivid characterizations and sharp social commentary. He created iconic fictional characters that embodied what he saw as the flaws and hypocrisies of American life in the early 20th century. His novel Babbitt, for instance, follows a shallow, materialistic businessman whose name became synonymous with unthinking conformity to middle-class conventions. Through works like these, Lewis offered an unflinching look at the dark underbelly of the American Dream and challenged romanticized notions of small-town virtue.
In addition to fiction, Lewis worked as a journalist and wrote short stories, plays, and essays throughout his career. He was known for his prodigious work ethic and meticulous research process when crafting his novels. He helped pave the way for greater social realism and satire in fiction. In recent years, there has been renewed interest in Lewis's work, particularly his 1935 novel It Can't Happen Here, which depicts the rise of fascism in America. Lewis's piercing critiques of conformity, materialism, and anti-intellectualism in American life continue to resonate with readers.