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

The cornerstone in books by Sinclair Lewis1 relates to the time in which they were written. In both Babbit (1922) and primary(prenominal) Street (1920) Lewis targets us the American culture of the 1920s. He writes about the emergence cities, the infinitesimal t avers, the common American man, the strong American need to conform, ethnic integration, morals (or lack of in some cases), and he touches upon the women lib movement. All of these and much successfully describe the 1920s.      "The parties were bigger... the pace was faster, the shows           were bigger, the buildings were higher, the morals were           looser..."2            - F. Scott Fitzgerald     Lewis attacks the American mall class business man in Babbit. As Sheldon Grebstein once correct it     "They ( Lewiss char acters ) become puppets rather than           performers." ( S. Lewis, Amer. Author Series 68 )He uses the ideas and attitudes already in existence and gives them a plot. He uses sarcasm to show the readers the geological fault of their ways and then makes the main character suffer some how to show the consequences of being the way George F. Babbit is.      Americans felt a need to rise in social status in the 1920s. Things like art and religion did non compensate make it in the maybe pile. Money and social betrothal was number one in every household.      "His ( Americans ) only way to make protective                     coloration, to loose himself in the crowd, and then to be           approved by one of its members." ( S. Lewis, Amer. Author     &nbs p     Series 78 )     George F. Babbit. A forty-six, middle class, overweight, suburban real estate dealer. To add to the mix he is a don 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 eventually 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 another job by other program line agencies.     At last, Carol became utterly discouraged with her dozens of failed endeavors and left town. even out the most ambitious and educated are helpless in a town where tradition reigns over common sense.      Through out the composition of Carol Kennicott and her painstaking efforts, Main Street demonstrates conformity in small(a) towns as well as the significance of conformity historically. It did nt matter wheather or not the people liked 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 provide him into writing his two most well known books in which he shows his fustration of selfish, Capitalistic, mid-western America.