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America in 1920 Literature Questions
Question 1: Comparing Babbit and Looking Backward
The two books look at the American society differently and with different tones. The tone in the book by Sinclair Lewis is that of an exaggerated irony of criticizing the American society for competing to gain wealth and social status. In the book, Lewis uses satire to describe the problem of Americans to agree to anything that the society imposed on them, in their chase for wealth. For instance, Babbit secretly dislikes the competition and dishonest tactics they use to make money from the middle class society (Lewis 361). Through the exaggeration of irony, Lewis criticizes the acceptance of the Americans to the middle-class mentality and social status of life.
In a different tone, the book by Edward Bellamy focuses on the future by showing confidence that the American society will become better. Unlike Lewis, who critiques, Bellamy gives visions of confidence to the people that America will become a better society. He gives this optimism in the middle of the challenges that American society faced in the early 20th century. For instance, cites the employment problem in late nineteenth century where there were many labor problems between workers and employers (Bellamy 23). By taking the utopian view of a dream, he gives hope for a better working environment as a progress of the American society.
Question 2: America in 1920
America in 1920 was a progressive society that had experienced social changes due to economic developments in the country. One of the main developments was the growth of industries that brought about a new social class status; the middle class. It is this middle class that Lewis criticizes when he presents Babbit as a character. In 1920, employment levels increased and the country experienced a movement of people from the rural areas to the cities, where the industries were located. As a result of economic growth, America also experienced the emergence of the youthful population that sought to achieve dreams and goals. This is what led to the growth of talent and professionals in the American society.
Works Cited
Bellamy, Edward. Looking Backward. Web, Accessed, 7 October, 2015, <http://msu.grtep.com/core/uploadfiles/components/103310/files/lookingbackward.pdf>
Lewis, Sinclair. Babbit, Web, Accessed, 7 October, 2015, <http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.32106002123104;view=1up;seq=9>