Chapter XXII explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Midlife Crisis and Disillusionment

  Babbitt's world becomes meaningless after Paul's imprisonment, reflecting his deep disillusionment and the collapse of his emotional anchors.

• Hypocrisy and Social Pretense

  Myra's moralizing about Paul's 'cross' contrasts with Babbitt's raw grief, and the Athletic Club's avoidance of the topic shows social hypocrisy.

• Gender Roles and Marriage

  Paul's violent reaction to Zilla's nagging and Babbitt's reflections on their marriage highlight the tensions in traditional gender roles.

Characters to notice

• George F. Babbitt

  Visits Paul in prison, tries to comfort him, offers to perjure himself, and struggles with the aftermath of Paul's arrest.

• Paul Riesling

  Imprisoned for shooting his wife Zilla; initially refuses to see Babbitt but later accepts his comfort; pleads guilty and is sentenced to three years.

• Zilla Riesling

  Shot by Paul; hospitalized but expected to recover; her shoulder is badly injured.

• Myra Babbitt

  Shows horrified interest in the tragedy and moralizes about Paul, which angers Babbitt.

• Lucas Prout

  Mayor; Babbitt uses his connection to Prout to gain access to Paul in prison.

Key passages

• “He drove to the City Prison, not blindly, but with unusual fussy care at corners, the fussiness of an old woman potting plants. It kept him from facing the obscenity of fate.”

  Babbitt drove to the prison with exaggerated caution, like an old woman tending plants, to avoid confronting the horrible reality of what had happened.

  Shows Babbitt's psychological avoidance of Paul's situation.

• “I forbid any of you to say a word about Paul! I'll 'tend to all the talking about this that's necessary, hear me? There's going to be one house in this scandal-mongering town tonight that isn't going to spring the holier-than-thou.”

  Babbitt angrily orders his family not to gossip about Paul, insisting their home will not join in the town's self-righteous scandal-mongering.

  Highlights Babbitt's loyalty to Paul and his disgust with social hypocrisy.

• “I've known and you've known many and many a case of perjury, just to annex some rotten little piece of real estate, and here where it's a case of saving Paul from going to prison, I'd perjure myself black in the face.”

  Babbitt argues that perjury is common for trivial gains like property, so he is willing to lie to save Paul from prison.

  Reveals Babbitt's moral flexibility and deep devotion to Paul.