Babbitt

"Babbitt" by Sinclair Lewis is a tale about George F. Babbitt, a well-to-do real estate agent living in Zenith, a made-up city. The story dives into Babbitt's everyday experiences, revealing a life of conformity, societal pressures, and a hidden dissatisfaction that simmers beneath the surface of his successful suburban life. The book starts by painting a picture of Zenith and then zooms in on Babbitt as he wrestles with the contrast between his dreams and the realities of his life. He faces everyday annoyances in his family life and feels increasingly unhappy with his job and personal relationships. Even though he is wealthy, Babbitt feels limited by what society expects of him and finds himself unhappy. His relationships with his family and other people show the superficiality and moral problems apparent in his world