Babbit by Sinclair Lewis

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.

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 Babbitt's life. Relationships, family, social life, and

business are all based on his ability to conform to Zenith's preset

standards of thought and action. All of Babbitt's thoughts are controlled

by society. Thoughts that are not those of society are frowned upon.

"What he feels and thinks is what is currently popular to feel and think.

Only once during the two years that we have him under view, does he venture

upon an idea that is remotely original-and that time the heresy almost

ruins him."(Bloom)

At first the reader sees Babbitt as a person more than happy to

conform to the standards set for him by the rest of society. Babbitt goes

about his normal routine praising modern technology, material possessions

and social status as ways to measure the worth of an individual. In fact

the readers first encounter with Babbitt sees him praising modern

technology. "It was the best of nationally advertised and quantitatively

produced alarm-clocks, with all modern attachments, including cathedral

chime, intermittent alarm, and a phosphorescent dial. Babbitt was proud of

being awakened by such a rich device."(Babbitt pg.3) Babbitt praises the

technology of his alarm clock only because it is a symbol of material worth

and therefore social status.

All of Babbitt's actions and thoughts are controlled by the

standards of Zenith. "His every action is related to the phenomena of that

society. It is not what he feels and aspires to that moves him primarily;

it is what the folks around him will think."(Mencken). All of Babbitt's

thoughts are those of society, and thoughts that are not society's are

ridiculed Babbitt works simply to raise his social status by means of

increasing his material worth. Babbitt belongs to many popular clubs, the

purposes of which he does not even completely understand. Why does Babbitt

do these things? Babbitt does these things to perform for the other

members of society. He does everything expected of him even if he does not

expect those things of himself. Babbitt does these things in hope of

improving his social status. This conformist man is exactly who Sinclair

Lewis wanted to show the reader, a man who's life is based on the ideals

and standards of others. "Villages-overgrown towns-three -quarters of a

million people still dressing, eating, building houses, attending church,

to make an impression on their neighbors." (Lewis). This is what Lewis

thought of American society and he used Babbitt to voice his opinions to

his readers. In fact that passage was intended to be included in the

original introduction of Babbitt, which was never published.

Babbitt does well in conformist society because in the beginning of

the novel he accepts all the standards, goals, ideals, likes, and dislikes

of society. Babbitt's though mirrors all those around him and he is

therefore accepted in society. At first Babbitt lives in the illusion of

happiness. The happiness Babbitt experiences is not genuine because he has

replaced his desires with those of society. Since Babbitt is controlled by

society his goals are also controlled by it. The goals set by society are

economic and material worth, social standing, and conservative thought.

Since Babbitt has achieved, at least in part, these goals he is in a sense

fooled into believing he is truly happy. Babbitt's true desires however

are not those of society he dreams of nature instead of modernization,

young women instead of his wife, adventure instead of standardization, and

he secretly sympathizes with certain groups he is supposed to despise

because of their non-conformist nature. Babbitt can dimly see the flaws in

his life but feels powerless to change his fate and become a better man.

Babbitt feels the pressure of conformist society and begins to witness the

control it has over his life.

The true awakening of Babbitt to the nature of conformist society

springs from his friendship with Paul Riesling. Paul is Babbitt's only

true

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