Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis

Description

Babbitt is a novel by Sinclair Lewis, first published in 1922. This sharp and enduring satire focuses on George F. Babbitt, a middle-aged real estate agent in the fictional city of Zenith, who outwardly embodies the prosperous, conformist American middle class of the 1920s. Beneath the surface, however, Babbitt grapples with deep dissatisfaction and an uneasy sense that his life, built on social status and material success, is ultimately hollow. Through Babbitt’s struggles, Lewis offers a piercing critique of American culture, especially its obsession with business, boosterism, and the pressures to conform. The novel is often seen as a landmark in American literature for its unflinching portrayal of the emptiness underlying the so-called “American Dream.” It cemented Sinclair Lewis’s reputation as a major social commentator and became a bestseller, resonating with readers who recognized the satire in their own lives and communities. Lewis’s work influenced later writers exploring themes of conformity and societal expectation, and Babbitt remains a key text for understanding the cultural tensions of early twentieth-century America. Its relevance endures today as it continues to challenge readers to examine the cost of success and the pressures of fitting into social molds.

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