Babbitt Chapter Summary

The morning comes in Zenith. The town is buzzing with new skyscrapers, automobiles, and factories. The main character Babbitt is a middle aged real estate broker. Babbitt keeps having these repetitive dreams about his fantasy girl. It is a young slim girl who makes him reminisce on his younger days. However, he may have been athletic then; but is now a pudgy man with a wife and three children. Babbitt’s home is located in Floral Heights which is a middle class residency in Zenith. Babbitt’s family consists of Verona, the oldest and a filing clerk who graduated from Bryn Mawr. Ted who is a junior in high school and isn’t sure if he wants to go to college or pursue his other interests. Lastly, in Tinka who is the youngest. The family is eating

In chapter three, Babbitt goes on to talk about the different neighbors he has and mentions Mr. and Mrs. Doppelbrau and Howard Littlefield. He says that he respects Mr. Littlefield and thinks that he’s a great scholar. However, he talks about how he dislikes the others. Later on in chapter four, Babbitt discusses how he keeps attempting to quit smoking by creating strategies to prevent his habit. However, Babbitt seems to always fail. Babbitt then schedules lunch with Paul Riesling who was one of his classmates. Riesling entered his father’s business, which is the manufacturing and sales of roofing after college. Babbitt talk’s about how Riesling could have been a great violinist if he stuck it out. Babbitt also thinks that he’s a know-it-all, but in reality he lacks real knowledge of architecture, landscaping, and economics. He always preaches ethics to the booster club, however he is unclear of the meaning of ethics. Later on in chapter 5 Babbitt prepares to meet Riesling for lunch at the athletic club. While waiting for lunch he praises himself and is determined to calculate his expected income for next

Babbitt visits a somewhere to purchase gin aka a speakeasy. Everyone is joyful when Babbitt brings out the cocktails. While sipping the alcohol, Babbitt realizes that his guest are great and all that he could ask for. However, when the alcohol wears off; Babbitt admits that he is bored and wishes that he could venture off to Maine. After all of the guest depart, Myra feels as if Babbitt didn’t enjoy his time. He tells her that he felt rather tired and that he wishes to go to Maine a week earlier than Myra and the children. At first, Myra’s feelings are hurt, but when she sees the way he is feeling she understands his reasoning for alone time. She suggests to him that Riesling go with him early. Zilla then accuses Riesling of cheating and an argument proceeds. Babbitt then goes on to call Zilla a nagging wife and Zilla explodes into tears while admitting that he is right. Zilla ends up allowing Riesling to go to Maine early with Babbitt. On the train to New York, travelling businessman in a smoking car, proceed to talk about prohibition and the world of business. Upon arrival, Riesling asks Babbitt if they can go look at the ocean liners. He wanted to go study the violin in Europe during his youth. They later end up going to the peer to fish and play poker as well. Myra and the kids finally show up.