Chapter 8

It is the spring of 1920 and Babbitt's image gets a boost when he buys a number of real estate properties for himself and his executives. He and Myra decide to throw a party. Every socially important person in Zenith is invited. Myra efficiently supervises everything and organizes the whole event. The children are kept out of the way and Babbitt is given the responsibility of fetching the ice cream and the drinks. At the appointed time, the guests arrive. They enjoy the drinks and delicacies served on the occasion. Then they talk about mundane matters and recite tiresome poetry. Everything goes perfectly according to plan.

This chapter does not really contribute to the main plot of the story. Instead it helps to emphasize the role of the Babbitts in their society. The Babbitts belong to a typical upper middle class family in which socializing is an essential ingredient of status quo. The Babbitts thus decide to throw a grand party and entertain the respectable citizens of the community. Days of planning go into the party and Myra is totally involved in organizing the event. Till the day of the party, all her efforts are channeled only in that direction. The guests at the party drink and eat and indulge in irrelevant chatter. A few of them try to display their limited talents and express some academic appreciation of artistic poetry. The whole party goes perfectly as planned.

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