KRITIK SOSIAL DALAM NOVEL BABBITT KARYA SINCLAIR LEWIS

ABSTRACT
FITA ANDRIANI. Social Criticism in Novel Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis
(Supervised by M. Syafri Badaruddin and Abidin Pammu)
The purpose of this research is to analyze social criticism by looking at
American social conditions as reflected in novel Babbitt and the problems
experienced by the characters in the story.
This study uses a genetic structuralism approach that discusses the
intrinsic and extrinsic elements of literary works. The data were analyzed by using
descriptive qualitative methods. The source of this research is the novel Babbitt
by Sinclair Lewis published by The New American Library of World Literature in
New York in 1962.
Based on the results of the analysis, the writer found criticisms submitted
by the author on the social conditions at that time. The social conditions reflected
in novel Babbitt include economic development, technological growth and
lifestyle. The social criticism conveyed by the author in the story is about a
culture of materialism that makes everyone only oriented towards money. Another
criticism conveyed by the author is about moral degradation by committing law-
breaking action, hypocrisy, corruption, and collusion. And finally, the criticism
conveyed is about the commercialization that touches the realm of religion and the
standardization of life for the middle class who live based on social standards and
conformity so that they lose their freedom, identity and happiness.