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 friend and is the extreme example of the stifling conformity in
Zenith. Zenith's harsh conformity demands that people give up their dreams
and goals causing them to become unhappy later in life. Paul is one of the
only characters who can see Zenith for what it really is. Paul tells
Babbitt that Zenith is a place of cutthroat competition and conformity. He
says that the conformity in Zenith has ruined his dreams of becoming a
fiddler, and instead forced him to become a tar roofing salesman. He
makes a very important observation about the citizens of Zenith. "one third
of 'em are sure enough satisfied with their wifes and kids and their
friends and their offices; and one third feel kind of restless but won't
admit it; and one third are miserable and know it."(Babbitt pg.64-65).
This statement is the most accurate description of Zenith in the novel.
This portraits a place in which two thirds of it's inhabitants are unhappy
with their lives due to the power that conformity has on their lives
stifling their dreams. Paul realizes that these people are helpless to
fight their unhappiness because conformity has trapped them into a life
which does not satisfy them. Babbitt fits into the second class, those
who are restless but won't admit it. Throughout the novel, however we will
see Babbitt move into the third class of openly miserable people.
Riesling already fits into that class. In an attempt to lighten Paul's
spirits Babbitt suggests a trip to the woods of Maine where him and Paul
will fish and hunt. Babbitt hopes that time away from Zilla will help Paul
and that maybe the trip could help to cure the restlessness he has been
feeling. This trip is when babbitt begins to realize that he is discontent
with his life and must try to improve it.. The realization that he does
not want to end up as unhappy as Paul prompts Babbitt to completely rebel
against the conformist society in which he lives, and fight for the life he
wants. When eventually Paul shoots his wife out of discontent Babbitt
realizes he must rebel against society and prevent himself from suffering
the same fate as Paul.
     After the unfortunate incident between Paul and his wife Babbitt
realizes that he must make an attempt to escape from conformist society,
and attempt to improve his life. Babbitt can see that his life would be
better without conformity. "This individual trapped in an environment,
catching glimmerings of something more desirable beyond it, struggling to
grasp them"(Schorer).
Unfortunately the means that Babbitt chooses to rebel against
society are poorly chosen. Babbitt's first attempt at rebellion is that he
changes his political outlook and joins the political crusade of Seneca
Doane. Next Babbitt supports workers in a strike. When this attempt fails
Babbitt looks towards other women as a source of comfort and rebellion.
Babbitt has always dreamed of romance and therefore starts an affair with
Tanis Judique a member of a wild set called "the bunch". "His greatest
adventure is his affair with Tanis Judique- and here he exercises his fancy,
transforming her and her friends into persons the are not."(Light).
Babbitt tries to convince himself that he is happier living a life of non-
conformity. Babbitt's attempts of rebellion are poorly chosen. Babbitt's
approach to rebellion is to radical, and causes him to be ridiculed, and
cast out by the rest of conformist society. Babbitt loses many friends
because of his non-conformist actions, and he begins to see the tru e power
of conformity. Babbitt's friends and family turn away from him. Society
rejects him because his new ideas do not fit their pre-conceived standards.
Babbitt begins to feel trapped between his own ideals and goals and the
pressure he constantly receives from family and friends to rejoin
conformist society.
     Late one night Babbitt's wife complains of pains in her side. Mrs.
Babbitt is diagnosed with appendicitis. This tragic event is all that is
needed to crumble the now weakened resistance that Babbitt has held against
conformist society. Babbitt worried about his wife swears loyalty to
conformity and all the values he had previously fought.
     At the end of the novel Babbitt is almost the same man he was at
the beginning of the novel, except for one major difference. Babbitt now
has no hallucinations about his life. He accepts his fate as a miserable
member of conformist society. Babbitt now realizes the terrible fate that
Zenith sets for it's citizens. When Babbitt's son asks him permission to
quit college and elope Babbitt approves in hope that his son will fare
better against the power of conformity than he has. "I've never done a
single thing I've wanted to in my whole life! I don't know's I've
accomplished anything except just get along……maybe you can carry things on
further. I don't know but I do get a sneaking kind of pleasure out of that
fact that you knew what you wanted to do and did it. Well, those folks in
there will try to bully you, and tame you down. Tell 'em go to the devil!
I'll back you. Take your factory job, if you want to. Don't be scared of
the family. No, nor all of Zenith. Nor of yourself the way I've been. Go
ahead, old man! The world is yours!".(Babbitt pg 401) In this meaningful
ending passage Babbitt admits his failure in life to his son, and tells him
to go after his dreams. He hopes that his son will not fear life, himself,
or Zenith the way he did. Babbitt realizes that fear is how conformity
captures it's victims, and that without fear anything is possible.
     In the city of Zenith the power of conformity is too strong to
battle, and even when it's power is realized it is impossible to battle.
Conformity traps the fearful into unhappy lives, and forces it's will upon
them. Once captured by conformity it is impossible to escape it's grasp.
Some Hope however exists for a newer generation including Babbitt's son to
conquer conformity and aspire to carry out their dreams.

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