In Sinclair Lewis' novel, Babbitt, the main character is a man who lives his entire life with the presumption that the only way to be happy is to follow society. Every day he walks the path of right-wing social law, convinced that only wealth can bring him happiness. Babbitt eventually makes an effort to change his ways, but he is too immersed in the system to pull himself out of the lifeless abyss of proper society. George F. Babbitt lives in a society that prohibits creativity at the expense of wealth, but guarantees only presumed happiness. . Every block that made up his life was touched by the pressure of conformity. Success in relationships, family, social life, and business all rely on one's ability to conform to Zenith's preset standards of thought and action. Everything Babbitt did was a reflection of what society told him to be. Furthermore, the only time Babbitt expressed a different opinion from the other citizens of Zenith was when he sided with the union strikers. His opinion was quickly dismissed by his friends and colleagues, and as he leaves the meeting he hears his friends begin to question his objections to the social law. At first Babbitt is portrayed as someone happy to conform to the standards set for him by the rest of society. He is repeatedly found talking about modern technology, material possessions, and social status as ways to measure an individual's worth. The first of these events comes early in the book when Babbitt boasts about his luxurious alarm clock. "It was the best of the nationally advertised, mass-produced alarm clocks, with all the modern accessories, including cathedral chime, intermittent alarm, and a glow-in-the-dark dial. Babbitt was proud to be awakened by such a rich device." All of Babbitt's actions and thoughts are controlled by the standards of those around him. He doesn't act because that's what he's inspired by, he acts out of acceptance for the rest of Zenith. Babbitt does everything others expect of him because he hopes to improve his social status. In this way, he quickly climbs the ladder of success, feeling empty happiness as he achieves the social goal of becoming richer and richer. However, Babbitt soon realizes that his growing hierarchical status, (along with his expanding wallet,) are not his honest aspirations. He begins to feel the desire for his true dreams, such as nature and adventure.