The 20s And Sinclair Lewis Essay -- essays research papers

The theme in books by Sinclair Lewis1 relates to the season in which they were written. In both Babbit (1922) and primary(prenominal) highroad (1920) Lewis shows us the American culture of the 1920s. He writes about the growing cities, the small towns, the common American cosmos, the strong American need to conform, cultural integration, morals (or lack of in some cases), and he touches upon the women lib movement. All of these and more successfully describe the 1920s.      "The parties were bigger... the railyard was faster, the shows           were bigger, the buildings were higher, the morals were           looser..."2            - F. Scott Fitzgerald     Lewis attacks the American centre of attention class business man in Babbit. As Sheldon Grebstein once put it     "They ( Lewiss cha racters ) become puppets rather than           performers." ( S. Lewis, Amer. indite series 68 )He uses the ideas and attitudes already in existence and gives them a plot. He uses sarcasm to show the readers the error of their ways and then makes the briny character suffer some how to show the consequences of being the way George F. Babbit is.      Americans mat up a need to rise in social status in the 1920s. Things like art and religion did non even make it in the maybe pile. Money and social acceptance was number one in every household.      "His ( Americans ) only way to assume protective                     coloration, to loose himself in the crowd, and then to be           approved by one of its members." ( S. Lewis, Amer. Author            Series 78 )     George F. Babbit. A forty-six, middle class, oerweight, suburban real estate dealer. To cater to the mix he is a father and a husband. Babbit is Lewiss picture of the middle class businessman. H.L. Menekan states     " The fellow simply dri... ... a forced teachers resignation and last to Ferns departure. Later Fern writes to Carol and informs her of even Ferns own families shame upon her and also of the refusal of other job by other teaching agencies.     At last, Carol became utterly discouraged with her dozens of failed endeavors and left town. Even the nigh ambitious and amend are helpless in a town where tradition reigns over common sense.      Through out the story of Carol Kennicott and her painstaking efforts, Main Street demonstrates conformity in small towns as well as the significance of conformity historically. It didnt matter wheather or not the peop le want her ideas or if they were good for the comunity, her plans to change Golpher Prarie were denined and she was shunned for even thinking them. Change was not welcome in a small town.     In Babbit and Main Street Sinclair Lewis repeataly shows his reactions to the new feeling of the 1920s. These times fueled him into writing his two most well known books in which he shows his fustration of selfish, Capitalistic, mid-western America.