Arrowsmith: Analysis of Major Characters
"Arrowsmith: Analysis of Major Characters" explores the intricate lives and relationships of key figures in Sinclair Lewis's novel, which centers on Martin Arrowsmith, a dedicated doctor with a passion for bacteriological research. The narrative captures Martin’s journey through various medical roles and his struggle to balance personal aspirations with societal expectations. He is influenced by Professor Max Gottlieb, a passionate advocate for pure science, who represents the ideal of scientific dedication but faces professional challenges due to his uncompromising nature.
Martin's relationships are pivotal; he marries Leora Tozer, whose warmth contrasts with his intellectual pursuits, and later, Joyce Lanyon, a wealthy widow whose social aspirations clash with Martin's commitment to research. Other notable characters include Gustaf Sondelius, a dynamic scientist, and Dr. Almus Pickerbaugh, a disingenuous figure in the medical community. The story delves into themes of ambition, ethical dilemmas in science, and the personal sacrifices made along the way, ultimately reflecting on the complexities of a scientist's life amidst personal and professional conflicts. This character analysis invites readers to contemplate the challenges faced by individuals who strive for integrity in their work while navigating the intricacies of interpersonal relationships.
Arrowsmith: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Sinclair Lewis
First published: 1925
Genre: Novel
Locale: The United States and the West Indies
Plot: Social realism
Time: Early twentieth century
Martin Arrowsmith, a doctor chiefly interested in bacterio-logical research. As a medical student, he falls under the influence of Dr. Gottlieb, who gives him an inkling of the excitement of pure science as opposed to the practical side of medicine. After a brief engagement to Madeline Fox, a graduate student in English, Martin marries Leora Tozer, and his marriage forces him to give up his bacteriological research for general medicine study. After graduation, he establishes himself as a general practitioner in Leora's home town of Wheatsylvania, North Dakota. He becomes acting head of the Department of Public Health there, but his honesty makes him unpopular, and he joins the staff of Dr. Pickerbaugh in Nautilus, Iowa. Pickerbaugh is a fake; the job leaves Martin no time for research, and again his honesty makes enemies. He next moves to Chicago as a pathologist in the Rouncefield Clinic. Through his old teacher, Gottlieb, he next joins the McGurk Institute in New York, an organization more interested in publicity than in pure science. He works on a cure for bubonic plague; when a plague is reported on an island in the West Indies, he goes there with Leora and Dr. Sondelius. With scientific detachment, he promises Gottlieb to test the antitoxin by giving it to only half the population, using the others as controls. After Sondelius and Leora both die of the plague, Martin, in his grief, gives the antitoxin to everyone, thus ruining the value of his experiment. On his return to the McGurk Institute, Martin marries Joyce Lanyon, a wealthy and fashionable widow. The marriage is unhappy; he cannot enter her social world, and she will not leave him time for his research. Resigning from the Institute and leaving Joyce, he joins Terry Wickett in the Vermont woods, where, in a crude laboratory, they begin the work that they both want to do.
Madeline Fox, Martin's first fiancée, a graduate student in English. She is pretentiously intellectual but fascinating to the crude Martin.
Leora Tozer, Martin's first wife, whom he marries while a student. Though not very intelligent, she is warm-hearted and kind and adores Martin. She dies in the West Indies of the plague.
Joyce Lanyon, a wealthy widow, Martin's second wife. The marriage fails because she finds Martin crude and uncultivated and can never understand his devotion to research.
Professor Max Gottlieb, a German-born professor of immunology at the University of Winnemac. He represents pure science, unconcerned with practical results. His intellectual arrogance and uncompromising honesty make it difficult for him to hold a position, and his career is a failure. He gives Martin the ideal of the scientist: a man dedicated to truth.
Terry Wickett, a scientist. As rough and uncouth as Martin, he is devoted to his work. He and Martin finally establish a laboratory in the Vermont woods.
Gustaf Sondelius, a dynamic Swedish fighter against diseases all over the world. He goes to the West Indies with Martin to combat the plague, is infected, and dies.
Cliff Clawson, a vulgar, clowning, but generous fraternity brother at the university. He reappears later when Martin is married to Joyce. He has become a slick salesman of fake oil stock.
Dr. Almus Pickerbaugh, Martin's colleague in the Public Health Service. He is a complete fake, a high-pressure salesman rather than a doctor, interested only in publicity. Martin tries to work under him but is much too honest to succeed. Pickerbaugh eventually becomes a congressman.
Orchid Pickerbaugh, his nineteen-year-old daughter, who has a brief flirtation with Martin.
Dr. Rippleton Holabird, head of the Department of Physiology at the McGurk Institute. He is an example of the pseudo-scientist, interested only in personal advancement.
Angus Duer, a mercenary classmate under whom Martin later works at the fashionable Rouncefield Clinic.
Dean Silva, who exerts a good influence on Martin at medical school.