Sinclair Lewis

Arrowsmith Sinclair Lewis

The novel revolves around Martin, a boy with keen interest in science and medicine. He is born and raised in a small town, Elk Mills, and goes on to become a medical student at college, where he meets Max Gottlieb, his mentor. At college, he starts a relationship with a fellow student, Madeline Fox. However, her snobbish attitude and behavior of looking down at those she thinks are beneath her, results in their break up. Martin goes on to fall in love with Leora Tozer, a nurse, whose kind-hearted soul is the complete opposite of Madeline's. Martin then begins a conflict within himself between the commercialism of physicians and his true love for scientific research. However, as he needs the money he and Leora move to Winnemac after he graduates, where he becomes the local doctor. However, he is met with dislike, as the townspeople continue to gossip about him, and he also loses a patient of his. Leora also miscarries. This causes him to feel like he has failed and thus they move away to Nautilus.