The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit by Sloan Wilson
"The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit" by Sloan Wilson is a notable novel from the 1950s that explores themes of conformity and the American Dream. Through the character of Tom Rath, a World War II veteran navigating post-war life, the narrative delves into the emotional and psychological struggles of suburban existence. Rath's journey underscores a critical examination of the notion of success, as he grapples with the expectations of his career, the memories of his wartime experiences, and the reality of a hidden past, including an illegitimate child.
Set against the backdrop of mid-century America, the novel highlights the tension between societal norms and individual identity, suggesting that the pursuit of material success may lead to existential dissatisfaction. While it may not have received the same critical acclaim as works by contemporaries like Ralph Ellison or Saul Bellow, it resonated with many readers, capturing the anxieties of a generation increasingly aware of the superficiality of modern life. The story's impact extended beyond literature, inspiring a successful film adaptation in 1956. Overall, "The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit" remains a relevant commentary on the complexities of American culture and the struggles of personal fulfillment within it.
The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit by Sloan Wilson
Identification Novel about American conformity and consumerism
Date Published in 1955
Author Sloan Wilson
The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit used a literary form, the novel, to comment on the complacency and conformity of many Americans during the 1950’s and argued that life continues to be just as fraught with problems and mistakes as in prior decades and one should take responsibility for one’s own choices.
Key Figures
Sloan Wilson (1920-2003), author
One of the best-selling novels of the 1950’s was Sloan Wilson’s The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit. It never received the critical acclaim of the works of Ralph Ellison or Saul Bellow, but it resonated with average readers who were increasingly aware of the bland conformity of the age. In a decade of relative peace and prosperity, Wilson insisted that something might be missing, something that could not be fathomed by considering yearly income or the square footage of one’s home or the type of car one drives. On the level of the popular novel, Wilson presented a critique of American culture similar to that which was emerging from the underground and from Beat literary figures such as Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac.
Wilson’s novel focuses upon the awakening of Tom Rath, who came home from World War II to pursue the American Dream. He and his wife, Betsy, live with their three children in the suburbs, and like so many Americans, they have almost enough to be happy, almost enough to pay their bills. As Rath seeks a higher-paying job, he must complete a single sentence on the employment application: “The most significant thing about me is. . . ” Though Rath gets the job, the unfinished sentence foreshadows Rath’s confrontation with himself: He must decide if he really wants to become a company man, unearth dormant memories of a brutal war experience, and acknowledge an illegitimate child he fathered in Europe. Together, Tom and Betsy discover that beneath the calm exterior of mid-1950’s conformity and gray flannel suits, the chaos of human life waits for everyone. It is not to be escaped even among the upwardly mobile in tranquil suburbs.
Impact
The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit was made into a successful film starring Gregory Peck and Jennifer Jones in 1956. Wilson wrote many other novels, but none was as influential as The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit. He received little attention from literary critics at the time, though the novel is frequently discussed in studies of American culture and American business.
Bibliography
Halberstam, David. The Fifties. New York: Ballantine Books, 1994. Chapter 35 analyzes the impact of Wilson’s novel.
Korda, Michael. Making the List: A Cultural History of the American Bestseller, 1900-1999. New York: Barnes and Noble Books, 2001. Korda devotes a chapter to each decade, within which he surveys important books and how they shaped collective dreams, fears, and experiences.