Sinclair Lewis

Sinclair Lewis was the first American to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. He was one of the representatives of the ‘revolt from the village’ movement and his success as a novelist resulted from his unusual ability to satirize the American middle class. Lewis’ works express the attitude of rebellion against a limited life, stagnation and the oppressive atmosphere of the provincial American towns in the first decades of the 20th century. The writer himself came from the Midwest, often referred to as the ‘heartland’ of America and inhabited by hard-working but conservative, narrow-minded, dull and self-complacent people.

‘Babbitt’is usually considered as the best of Lewis’ works. The hero of this novel, Babbitt, is a businessman in a small city. He is a typical representative of the American middle class with all its limitations and drawbacks such as moral hypocrisy, intellectual mediocrity, conformism and devotion to making money. Although he rebels against the banality of everyday life he is unable to break away from the confines and conventions of his class.


The American middle class has also been satirized in Lewis’ ‘Main Street’. This time the protagonist is an ambitious college graduate who tries to reform the local community. However, all her attempts to evoke certain intellectual aspirations in people are in vain. Ultimately, she gives in and surrenders to ordinariness.

In his next major novel ‘Arrowsmith’ Lewis ridiculed the medical profession and in “Elmer Gantry’ he attacked religious institutions.

In all his works Sinclair Lewis seemed to sum up what small-town America was all about.

By: Sharon White

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The article was produced by the writer of masterpapers. Sharon White has many years of a vast experience in management essays writing and Macbeth essays writing consulting. Get free samples of essays, coursework and comparative essays .

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