Babbit Essay - 1088 Words

Babbit 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 trapped in a maze, and is told by â€Å"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†¦show more content†¦Paul is Babbitt’s best friend and they experience many of troubles together. Zilla, like Babbitt, wants to change her current situation and takes her frustration out on Paul. Zilla, Paul’s wife is overbearing in the marriage, and uses this tactic to cover up the insecurity she feels in her life. The strife between Zilla and Paul is so deep that it affects every aspect of Paul’s life. It even brings him to the act of shooting his wife. Both George and Paul have the same attitude toward their wives, and it takes a private vacation to Maine for them to realize that they must treat their wives better. Later in the novel, when George is experiencing a downward spiral in his life, he realizes that his marriage is becoming similar to what Paul experienced. Babbitt begins to experience many new things and women when he finds himself in these circumstances. He begins flirting with women, a nd also begins to suffer a mid-life crisis. This is Babbitt’s attempt to break the norm of everyday life, and acting on impulses is his way of doing this. Women can dramatically affect the way society thinks, and therefore play a crucial role in the novel. Babbitt experiences a cultural clash everyday in the novel. Babbitt is extremely hypocritical in the way he improves his ranks in society, as is rest of the world. Every person wants to associate with a group of people that are â€Å"higher† than them. A perfect example would be the McKelveys and the OverbrooksShow MoreRelatedThe Movie Rain Man By Raymond Babbit1429 Words   |  6 PagesMan, Raymond Babbit is portrayed by actor, Dustin Hoffman. Raymond Babbit is a patient of the Walbrook Institute where he was placed at a young age. Raymond is diagnosed with Savants Syndrome. In Raymond’s case, he functions at an impressively high level (Inc., 2004). Savant syndrome is diagnosed when an individual performs basic cognitive processes below what is deemed as normal. However these individuals exhibit exceptional abilities in certain areas. 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