Sinclairs Babbitt
Sinclair Lewis’ novel Babbitt is a story of a 46-year-old man, George Babbitt, and his family who reside in a fictional midwestern suburb named Floral Heights. ... The story is told through Babbitt, who seeks the finest modern things and holds conservative Republican political views, two things that were very much alive in the 1920s. Babbitt is a satire about capitalism and its affects. Early in the novel we see Babbitt’s love of things modern and expensive. ... One morning Babbitt looks out of his window and can see downtown Zenith, located a few miles away, with its tall buildings and promise of capitalism at work, and states, “That’s one lovely sight! ... Then Babbitt looks at the thirty-five story Second National building and adores it. Babbitt, a businessman, enjoys Capitalism and a growing economy that enables him to have a house in the suburbs, afford all the modern conveniences, and belong to all the “right” social clubs in town. In the opening chapters Lewis provides great detail of Babbitt’s house and the modern contents of it. ... Although Lewis describes all the wonderful things that Babbitt’s house has to offer, he tells of its one drawback: it was not a home. Babbitt is materialistic and takes pride in being able to afford all the newest and expensive goods.