Babbit Essay -- Essays Papers

BabbitThe depressing tragedy known as Babbitt, by Lewis Sinclair, accurately portrays the convention of life in the 1920s. Sinclair precisely evokes the conformity and orthodox life styles that make a growing culture. Man, in the 1920s, is caught in a lifestyle where he is continually fed on what to think. Lewis cunningly explains the constraints of convention that plagued George Babbitt, and mocks monastic order as a whole for its lack of liberal views. Babbitt throughout the novel seems to be trapped in a maze, and is told by the machine when to turn. Only when Babbitt revolts against conservative America does his life change, but the question is was it for the better?The economy is booming with success, and your wealth portrays ones position in society. George Babbitt is infatuated with having the latest gadgets and technology in his home, as is the rest of materialistic America. Lewis portrays society as a group of self-centered people who must have the best of everything (sou nds similar to our world today). Middle-class America is disturbingly the same to the last detail in the 1920s. Life begins for Babbitt waking up to an unappreciative family, and a typical fake video display of affection from his wife. Babbitt realizes his life is dull and mundane. Even the kiss from his wife is typical. Babbitt, like most men in the 1920s, finds his home not as a haven but as a depressing reality of what his life has really become. Babbitt recognizes he is disgusted with his life, and that he doesnt scour do his wife. Only when Babbitt escapes his home does he find satisfaction. Babbitt is found in his community as a role model of every backupmen, even the mechanic at the gas station commends him for organization. Babbitt temporarily feels relief when liberty encompasses his life, but later in the novel Babbitt illustrates that even business is shaped by society. Just as business is shaped in Zenith, so are the women who live there. Women in the novel are acc urately visualized as they were in the 1920s. Lewis presents two different scenarios in the novel, but both of these cases can follow the same mannerisms. First, Lewis depicts the loving housewife. Myra, Babbitts wife, continually comfort Babbitt throughout the whole novel. Myra even accepts the blame when Babbitt decides to cheat on her. Women are depicted throughout the novel as inferior when... ...e go across of social order is telling them this is ok. That is why liberal views in Zenith are so quickly extinguished. The superior class wants people to think that there forever must be a lower class because that is the way God has planned it, which in retrospect sustains their rank as the higher class forever. Its ironic that this idea is still relevant today.In conclusion, Babbitts revolt toward society had actually changed nothing. He went back to not loving his wife and continuing his job as a realtor. His popularity recovers from his era of revolt. Babbitt regains his place in the world by allowing society to influence his life. He stops rubbish and this is the simple reason why his life is a tragedy. How does Babbitt analyze the successfulness of his life? He never took complete control and experienced freedom in any of his actions. He only valued the acceptance of others, rather than what was true to his heart. Babbitt life had no meaning, since he constantly let the constraints of society shape it. One must wonder if society in the 1920s could have changed by reading this novel. This is not probable, considering that society is the same today as it was 80 years ago.