Throughout the course of Sinclair Lewis's novel,
Babbitt, the character of George Follansbee Babbitt undergoes the
only major rebellion of his meaningless and conforming life in Chapter 22. For, in this
chapter, Babbitt acts as an individual and a loyal friend to Paul Riesling. Having been
involved in false acts such as philandering and a venture as an ersatz outdoorsman,
Babbitt's insistence upon speaking with Paul in prison and his extension of true
friendship is the only authentic act of this
character.
This act is authentic since Babbitt risks social
condemnation for being on the side of a man charged with attempted murder on his wife.
As he leaves the prison, Babbitt feels that "It seemed somehow wicked to return to the
office." This reflection of Babbitt indicates that he is not conforming to American
standards, but is thinking for himself. When he returns home his wife is excited about
the tintillating details of the charges against Paul and readily condemns him, but
Babbitt orders,
"I forbid any of you to say a word about Paul!
I'll 'tend to all the talking that's going to be necessary, hear me? There's going to
be one house in this scandal-mongering town tonight that's isn't going to spring the
holier-than-thou. And throw those filthy evening papers out of the
house!"
Yet, Lewis writes
that Babbitt himself reads the papers after dinner. So, the indication is that
Babbitt's efforts to redefine himself will not last and he will return to being a
"standardized citizen" as his other efforts at rebellion are meaningless failures and
he, again, returns to conformity.
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