Fascism in Sinclair Lewis's It Can't Happen Here
This essay examines Sinclair Lewis's It Can't Happen Here as a satirical exploration of fascism's potential in the United States during the 1930s. Focusing on the characters of Doremus Jessup and an unnamed Vermont doctor, the paper analyzes how their reactions to the fictional fascist president Buzz Windrip illuminate both the plausibility of authoritarian rule in America and the forms of resistance it might inspire. The doctor's dismissal, subsequent opposition, and eventual execution illustrate the danger of complacency, while Jessup's ideological resistance through print media demonstrates a more enduring—though still uncertain—challenge to fascist ideology.
- Introduction: Satire and the Specter of American Fascism: Lewis's novel as satire of U.S. fascism
- The Vermont Doctor: Complacency and Its Consequences: Doctor dismisses fascism, then is executed
- Doremus Jessup: Ideological Resistance Through Print: Jessup opposes Windrip through political writing
- Resistance, the Printing Press, and Historical Context: Print media as historical resistance tool
- Conclusion: Fascism's Potential and Its Limits: Fascism possible but always faces resistance
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What makes this paper effective
- Uses close reading of specific quotations from the novel to anchor its analytical claims, grounding interpretation in textual evidence rather than assertion alone.
- Connects the fictional characters' behaviors to broader historical context—the Great Depression and the culture of political pamphlets during the World War era—lending the literary analysis real-world weight.
- Maintains a clear and consistent thesis throughout: fascism is both a genuine possibility in Lewis's America and one that will inevitably provoke resistance.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper models character-based literary analysis by using two contrasting figures—one who resists openly and is destroyed, one who resists ideologically and endures—to develop a nuanced argument about power, complacency, and the durability of opposition. This comparative character study is a strong undergraduate technique for drawing thematic conclusions from fiction.
Structure breakdown
The essay opens with a thesis framing Lewis's satirical intent and its relevance to American fascism. It then devotes one body paragraph each to the Vermont doctor and Doremus Jessup, drawing direct quotes to support analysis. A third body paragraph situates Jessup's resistance in historical context before a brief conclusion synthesizes both character studies into the paper's central claim.
Introduction: Satire and the Specter of American Fascism
Sinclair Lewis's It Can't Happen Here is a thinly veiled satire about the possibility of a fascist dictatorship erected in the United States (Reardon, 2015). In that respect, the author's characterization is particularly important in elucidating the potential of fascism during the 1930s in this country. An analysis of the actions and interactions of Doremus Jessup and a Vermont doctor, then, reveals that the potential of fascism in America is both possible and nearly absolute.
The Vermont Doctor: Complacency and Its Consequences
The doctor in Vermont is a relatively minor character in this work. However, his reaction to the tirades of the recently elected U.S. President, Buzz Windrip — who acts like a fascist dictator for the majority of the novel — mirrors that of most Americans regarding the possibility of this movement's emergence in America. The doctor scoffs at the idea and dismisses it based on what he perceives as the inherent virtue of the United States: "Why, America's the only free country on earth. Besides! Country's too big for a revolution. No, no! Couldn't happen here" (Lewis, 1935). This passage demonstrates that the doctor disbelieves Windrip could possibly win the election and implement a fascist regime, because he perceives the U.S. as a "free" nation — the only one left on the face of the earth.
Such a perception was not uncommon among Americans even in the midst of the Great Depression in the 1930s, and it remains fairly widespread today. Once Windrip is elected, this prominent doctor opposes his regime and is eventually executed because of it. It is significant that this character does oppose Windrip and his fledgling fascism, which shows that such a movement in this country would incur resistance. However, the doctor's fate suggests that open resistance may prove futile, and that fascism in any country is a potent force.
References
Brickell, H. (1935). Book reviews: It Can't Happen Here. The North American Review, 240(3), 543–546.
Lewis, S. (1935). It Can't Happen Here. Retrieved from http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks03/0301001h.html
Reardon, P. (2015). Book review: It Can't Happen Here. Retrieved from
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