Elmer Gantry · Question
How does Elmer Gantry develop the theme of Class and Social Climbing?
Answer
Elmer Gantry by Sinclair Lewis develops Class and Social Climbing across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
Elmer's career is marked by strategic social maneuvering, as he ingratiates himself with wealthy businessmen and elites, revealing how class and money shape religious institutions.
Mrs. Gantry dreams of Elmer's future success and social elevation, imagining him with a famous church and a summer cottage.
The dinner setting and the expectation that clergy be 'instructive' while enjoying hospitality illustrate the social dynamics and pressures of rural religious life.
Elmer and Sharon bond over their humble origins, contrasting with Cecil's refined demeanor, underscoring class tensions within the religious movement.
Evidence in the book
- II
Mrs. Gantry dreams of Elmer's future success and social elevation, imagining him with a famous church and a summer cottage.
- VI
The dinner setting and the expectation that clergy be 'instructive' while enjoying hospitality illustrate the social dynamics and pressures of rural religious life.
- V
Elmer and Sharon bond over their humble origins, contrasting with Cecil's refined demeanor, underscoring class tensions within the religious movement.
- Chapter XII
Sharon's invented Falconer identity and the Virginia plantation setting highlight the theme of constructed aristocracy and social aspiration.
- II
Frank notes that the church's membership consists largely of the ignorant and the respectable, while skilled workmen and professionals stay away, highlighting class divisions in religious participation.
- II
The bishop's residence in Devon Woods, with its imitation half-timbering and eclectic decor, signals a desire to appear cultured and refined, typical of the next-to-the-best professional class.
- Chapter XIX
Elmer's disappointment at the lack of a grand reception and his assessment of Banjo Crossing's rustic simplicity highlight his social aspirations and class consciousness.
- I
Elmer's disdain for the rustic village and his sense of fallen status after the 'mounting glory with Sharon' reflect his preoccupation with social standing.
