Study Questions
What does Lewis's description of Babbitt's home tell us?
Babbitt's daughter Verona professes "liberal opinions" and wants to have a socially responsible career. Why do her beliefs lack substance?
Babbitt supports business ethics, but he is unclear what he means by ethics. What does his actual behavior tell us about business ethics in Zenith?
The Babbitts throw a dinner party to celebrate Babbitt's business success one spring. Why is it ironic that they should call their guests the "keenest intellects"?
Howard Littlefield is supposed to be a "Great Scholar." Zenith's middle class is extremely anti-intellectual, yet Littlefield is a popular member of Zenith's middle class. Why?
How is Riesling different from the typical Zenith businessman?
Why are disappointed dreams and youthful ambitions a prevalent theme in Babbitt?
How does the mayoral race show that middle-class values threaten political democracy?
Why does Babbitt break up with Tanis? Why does he choose to end his rebellion and return to his conventional, middle-class life?
