Arrowsmith is a classic American novel written by Sinclair Lewis. Lewis wrote this book in the early 1900s as a current outlook on the world of science at that time. The main theme it focuses on is commercialism and its effect on science. During this time period, there were many advances in the field of medicine. Everyone was racing to find the cure for deadly diseases, patent it, and profit from it.
Helping humanity was more of a service than a business to the human race, but unfortunately, doctors and institutes have become increasingly capitalistic. Like businesses trying to maximize their profits, many doctors and scientists cut corners and guessed at many things to get their products or methods on the market as fast as possible. However, there are still a few scientists who remain strictly devoted to their science, not letting money, glory, and success corrupt them. Scientists like this despise commercialism and hold contempt for other doctors and scientists who fall into the system of capitalism.
The book follows the life of Martin Arrowsmith, a scientist who is torn between pure science and commercialism. He wants to be a true scientist, but he is pushed into commercialism by everyone he meets, except for a select few. Among the few is Max Gottlieb, who is Martin’s model for everything a true scientist should be. Gottlieb is a bacteriologist who is completely against the capitalist values of commercial doctors and scientists. He devotes himself religiously to his science and believes in being completely thorough, not guessing, or accepting things without completely understanding them. Terry Wickett, a disciple of Gottlieb’s, holds all the same values and attitudes as Gottlieb toward capitalism and commercialism. He helps Martin break away from commercialism and become a true scientist.
Another person who greatly helps Martin in his life is his first wife, Leora Tozer, who stands by and supports Martin no matter what. She devotes herself to Martin as much as Gottlieb devotes himself to his science. She supports him in whatever decision he decides to make, helps and comforts him in his times of need, and remains completely loyal to him at all times, even when he is not completely loyal to her. The story starts with Martin Arrowsmith as a medical student at Winnemac University, where he was first introduced to commercial science and pure science and had to choose between the two.
It is here that Martin first meets Max Gottlieb, who was a professor at the university and head of the bacteriology department, and becomes completely in awe of him. His classmates mock Martin for his choice in idol because they see Gottlieb as somewhat of a failure in life simply because he is poor and not very high standing or recognized in society, which is actually what Gottlieb prefers to be. A few of Martin’s classmates that have a significant effect on his life are Ira Hinkley, Angus Duer, and Clif Clawson. Ira Hinkley is a humanitarian, self-righteous reverend who later becomes a missionary in the West Indies.
He is studying medicine for the purpose of helping humanity and gaining glory for himself along the way. Angus Duer is a social climber who is studying science more for the sake of obtaining the inherent respect held for doctors and scientists. He does all the methods and techniques with a cold precision but only because he was told to do them, not because he wants to understand why things are the way they are. Clif Clawson is completely centered on making money and being successful. He went into medical school solely because he would be able to make a lot of money as a doctor or physician.
The university teaches students how to make money from their knowledge through commercialism, even more than the actual medical science itself. The following passage is part of a lesson given by Dr. Roscoe Geake, a professor at the university. Knowledge is the greatest thing in the medical world, but it’s no good unless you can sell it. To do this, you must first impress your personality on the people who have the dollars. Whether the patient is a new or an old friend, you must always use salesmanship. Explain to them, and to their stricken and anxious family, the hard work and thought you are giving to their case. Make them feel that the good you have done or intend to do is even greater than the fee you plan to charge.”
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