Sinclair Lewis and Babbitt - 2178 Words

Sinclair Lewis and Babbitt The book under analysis herein is Sinclair Lewis Babbitt. The copy I am using in this research is published by Harcourt, Brace World, Inc., New York, 1950. The original version was published in 1922, but there is no information in this book regarding what printing or edition it may be. This edition encompasses thirty four chapters which span 401 pages in length as they are printed here. One interesting note is that the novel is dedicated to Edith Wharton. The author of the work, Sinclair Lewis, was born in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, and holds the distinction of being the first American ever to be awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. Lewis was born in the late 19th century and lived†¦show more content†¦If we look at specific passages from the novel, it is easy to see the authors contention as described above. While he does temporarily decide to fight the limiting influences of a material society that ostracizes individuality opposed to its established norms, Babbitt does revert back to his unquestioning superficial self once he recognizes that having original thoughts and acting on them is isolating, unprofitable and even dangerous. Babbitt is supposed to represent the ordinary human being, the average businessman and upwardly mobile middle-class America. However, Babbitt seems more artifice than genuine human being. Like the ads that sell Americans products, Babbitt has forged an identity that was imposed on him by the dominant forces of democratic capitalism, Just as he was an Elk, a Booster, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, just as the priests of the Presbyterian Church determined his every religious belief, and the senators who controlled the Republican Part decided in little smoky rooms in Washington what he should think about disarmament, tariffs, and Germany, so did the large national advertisers fix the surface of his life, fix what he believed to be his individuality. These standard advertised wares...at first the signs, then the substitutes, for joy and passion and wisdom (Lewis 95). However, for all his satire of Babbitt, Lewis, in keeping with his own character, seems somewhatShow MoreRelatedEssay about George Babbitt of Sinclair Lewis Babbitt1593 Words   |  7 PagesGeorge Babbitt: Image of a Presbyterian         Ã‚  Ã‚  In Babbitt, Sinclair Lewis portrays religion as a corrupt business.   In fact, he emphasizes this by focusing on his main character George Babbitt.   George Babbitt is characterized as a businessman in Zenith.   He is a man preoccupied about his reputation and his image before the main leaders of the town he lives in.   Lewis creates a hypocritical figure for Babbitt through his reasons for being a Presbyterian.   He says that if you were to questionRead MoreKey Elements in Sinclair Lewis, Babbitt Essay1078 Words   |  5 PagesSinclair Lewis, the author of Babbitt, devised several key literary elements to explain his full effect and purpose for writing his novel. Babbitt is a satirist look, at not only one man, but an entire society as well. He exposes the hypocrisy and mechanization of American society in the 1920’s. In the story Lewis focuses on his main character George Babbitt, the protagonist throughout much of the book, who is a busines s with lofty aims and a desire to climb the ladder of the social class. To fullyRead More Comparing Satire in Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis and The Simpsons2063 Words   |  9 PagesThe Power of Satire in Babbitt and The Simpsons      Ã‚   Sinclair Lewis used his writing to promote the enrichment of American society by attacking the weaknesses he perceived in his era.   His most notable work, Babbitt, is a satire on the middle class lifestyle and attitude of the 1920s.   Lewis satirical style and voice is comparable to the modern television series The Simpsons, written by Matt Groening.   Babbitt and The Simpsons contain numerous similarities in satirical writing, presentationRead More Teen Conformity in Sinclair Lewis Babbitt and in Society Today3030 Words   |  13 PagesTeen Conformity in Babbitt and in Society Today      Ã‚   In society today, people feel the need to belong. They feel as though they have to be a part of something in order to feel special. At times, they will go so far as to lose their individuality and submit themselves into complete ignorance just to be able to know that there is someone or something to which they can always fall back on. Conformity is one of the most common and most apparent forms of Babbittry in the twenty - first centuryRead MoreEssay about The Republican Party in Sinclair Lewis Babbitt1840 Words   |  8 PagesThe Republican Party in Sinclair Lewis Babbitt      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sinclair Lewis Babbitt portrayed a man bent on following his political party; his actions seemingly followed that religiously, and todays version of the Republican Party is proof that we are not too far off from Lewis version, despite the expanse of time. George Babbitt, the main character in Lewis novel, viewed the world in the eyes of a businessman. He saw immigrants as a waste to society, business and the means to surviveRead More Superiority of Races in Sinclair Lewis Babbitt Essay example2147 Words   |  9 PagesSuperiority of Races in Babbit      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hatred, intolerance, prejudice, and narrow-mindedness are all terms that can be applied when describing someone who is a bigot.   By these terms George F. Babbitt, the protagonist in Sinclair Lewis Babbitt, and many of his acquaintances are quite the bigots toward all those that appear different than he is especially immigrants and minorities in America.   The blame should not be placed squarely on these mens shoulders for possessing such hateRead More Babbit Essay1088 Words   |  5 PagesBabbit The depressing tragedy known as Babbitt, by Lewis Sinclair, accurately portrays the convention of life in the 1920’s. Sinclair precisely evokes the conformity and orthodox life styles that shaped a growing culture. Man, in the 1920’s, 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 society as a whole for its lack of liberal views. Babbitt throughout the novel seems to be trappedRead More Babbit by Sinclair Lewis Essays1737 Words   |  7 Pages Babbitt: Conformity In the Sinclair Lewis novel Babbitt, the character of Babbitt is completely controlled by the power of conformity. Conformity is so powerful that even after babbitt realizes the stifling nature of the society in which he lives he is powerless to change his fate as a member of conformist society. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;George F. Babbitt is a man who is completely controlled by the conformist society in which he lives. Pressure to conform lies in all aspects of BabbittsRead More Conspicuous Consumption in Sinclair Lewis Babbit Essay1941 Words   |  8 PagesConspicuous Consumption in Sinclair Lewis Babbit      Ã‚   The idea of conspicuous consumption, or buying unnecessary items to show ones wealth, can be seen in Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis.   Lewis describes the main character of the book, George F. Babbitt, as a person who has his values and priorities all mixed up.   Babbitt buys the most expensive and modern material goods just to make himself happy and make people around his aware of his status.   He is more concerned about these items thanRead MoreOf Social Conformity In Ernest Hemingways The Sun Also Rises And Babbitt1582 Words   |  7 PagesConformity: The Sun Also Rises and Babbitt Conformity can be understood as the adjusting self as per accepted standards while social conformity, in particular, refers to that adjustment made by a person to fit in the prevailing nature of a particular group. In this understanding, social compliance can be the changing of one’s behavior and other actions to reflect those of a social group, family, friends or community in general. In the two books, The Sun Also Rises and Babbitt, social conformity takes places