Searching For The Alienated Subject

Sinclair Lewis (1885-1951) is one of the most distinguished writers in the 20th century American literature. Babbitt (1922) has been regarded as one of his best novels, which exposes the hypocrisy and smugness of the middle class mercilessly. This thesis, in accordance with the presupposition of Lacan's cognition theory of Three Orders and Mirror Stage, attempts to analyze Babbitt's psychological crises, and points out that Babbitt's struggle, in Lacanian sense, is a process of searching for subjectivity; however, an alienated one. The alienation of the subject is not only the essential stage of growth, but also a result of the pernicious influence of the American society in the 1920s.Apart from Introduction and Conclusion, this thesis is divided into five chapters. The Introduction presents the life history of Sinclair Lewis and critical responses to his masterpiece Babbitt. The significance of a Lacanian Reading of the novel is analyzed as well.Chapter One mainly adopts Lacan's Mirror Stage theory to analyze the formation of Babbitt's self. According to Lacan, human beings are born prematurely. They could not distinguish themselves from others in the pre-mirror stage. No sense of self or subjectivity can be felt in that stage. Only after mirror stage can human child identify himself with an image and form his ego. Babbitt, frivolous, ignorant and snobbish, lives in chaos at the beginning of the novel. He lives a mechanical and standardized life, conforms to every standard the middle class society establishes. Babbitt has no sense of self; he is living "in a fairytale world, oblivious to what was really going on around him." But all these seemingly peaceful life is shattered when his best friend, Paul Riesling, is put into prison for murdering his wife. Paul's accident acts as a mirror to Babbitt. As a result, Babbitt comes to realize his self and identifies himself with Paul in the mirror stage. It is at this stage that Babbitt's self begins to be alienated.Chapter Two shows the tiring process of Babbitt's seeking subjectivity in the imaginary order. According to Lacan, the imaginary order is a realm of deception, illusion and lure. In the novel, Babbitt's sense of self is generated after the mirror stage. However, the image he identifies with is alienated and fragmented. He could not enjoy Paul's companionship because of the latter's imprisonment. So he tries to rebel against the society which separates him and Paul, the process of which is characterized by narcissism and alienation. As a result, Babbitt makes up Paul's absence by identifying with Tanis Judique. Babbitt's rebellious action is full of disillusion and frustration. Alienation is the main feature of the imaginary order.Chapter Three gives an analysis of Babbitt's psychology in the symbolic order. Lacan argues that "the structures of society are symbolic". It is in the symbolic order that the consciousness of human being's subject is finally established. This is a realm of the Law which could regulate desires of the subject. After the illusionary process of seeking subjectivity, Babbitt finally accepts the law of the society, identifies himself with his wife at last. Babbitt realizes his subjectivity, which is, however, greatly alienated in this stage. Babbitt sees his own tragedy and encourages his son not to make the same mistake again.Chapter Four provides a detailed discussion of Babbitt's dreams and hallucinations. To Lacan, the Real is unknowable and inassimilable which can be expressed in traumatic dreams and hallucinations. This chapter analyzes Babbitt's psychological trauma. His dream of the fairy girl is an outlet of hatred to the dissatisfying marriage. The hallucination is an unconscious protest to the stifling society. This chapter reveals how severe Babbitt's subjectivity is alienated by the society.Chapter Five demonstrates the importance of alienation. According to Lacan's theory, every subject is alienated in the process of maturity. Alienation is an essential stage of growth which happens at the very beginning of the mirror stage and will last for a lifetime. On the other hand, the effect of environment should not be ignored. The abnormal social environment would corrupt one's mind, as what the hypocritical society in the 1920s did to Babbitt. In that era, clothes, lectures, home improvements, even people's minds were standardized. People were living in mechanical life styles and could not find their individuality and subjectivity. Some of them lost themselves as a result, like Babbitt. This chapter illustrates the process of alienation and how severe Babbitt is influenced by the abnormal social environment of the 1920s.The Conclusion summarizes the significance of interpreting the novel. This thesis, in accordance with the Lacanian theory of cognition, interprets Lewis's Babbitt from a new perspective. Babbitt's mental disturbance, in fact, is an unconscious searching for subjectivity, though an alienated one. It not only makes a quite thorough study of the American society in the 1920s, but gives a detailed analysis of people's psychological problems as well.