Babbitt · Chapter
IX explained
On the final evening of the state real estate convention in Monarch, Babbitt joins the Jered Sassburgers for tea, then drinks cocktails with them and W.
What happens
On the final evening of the state real estate convention in Monarch, Babbitt joins the Jered Sassburgers for tea, then drinks cocktails with them and W. A. Rogers. Later, he and Rogers gather Elbert Wing and other delegates in their hotel room for a raucous, whiskey-fueled party, where they tell stories and lament their settled lives.
Themes in this chapter
Conformity and Materialism
The delegates' drinking and storytelling serve as a ritualized escape from the conformity of their domestic and business lives, yet they remain trapped in materialistic pursuits.
Midlife Crisis and Disillusionment
The man from Sparta's confession about abandoning his dream of becoming a chemist and feeling 'settled for life' highlights the disillusionment and regret of middle-aged men.
Characters to notice
- George F. Babbitt
Enjoys tea with the Sassburgers, then leads a drinking party with fellow delegates, expressing a desire to 'bust loose.'
- Miriam Sassburger
Hosts tea and mixes cocktails for Babbitt and Rogers, displaying her knowledge of cocktail ritual.
- Elbert Wing
Joins Babbitt and Rogers in their hotel room for an evening of drinking and storytelling.
- W. A. Rogers
Accompanies Babbitt to tea and later participates in the hotel room party, leading songs.
Key passages
“I don't know how it strikes you hellions, but personally I like this busting loose for a change, and kicking over a couple of mountains and climbing up on the North Pole and waving the aurora borealis around.”
Babbitt expresses his enjoyment of breaking free from routine, using exaggerated imagery to convey his exhilaration.
Reflects Babbitt's desire for adventure and escape from his conventional life.
“I guess I'm as good a husband as the run of the mill, but God, I do get so tired of going home every evening, and nothing to see but the movies.”
A delegate admits his frustration with domestic monotony, despite considering himself a decent husband.
Illustrates the theme of midlife disillusionment and the yearning for something more.