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Babbitt visits Paul Riesling in prison. It\'s a place of death, Lewis says, and Paul himself is in effect dead--pale, meek, defeated. Babbitt, too, is changed. He no longer cares what others think of him, no longer has pride in his worldly success. He\'s ready to begin his rebellion for real.
One opportunity arises when a Mrs. Daniel Judique appears in Babbitt\'s office. Slender, elegantly dressed, she impresses Babbitt so much he offers to rent her an apartment he\'s been saving for his friend, Sidney Finkelstein. On the way to the apartment, the two flirt, but Babbitt can\'t work up enough courage to make a pass at her.
Soon, Babbitt\'s thoughts turn from Tanis Judique to the young manicurist at the Pompeian Barbershop. Impatiently he enters this marble palace devoted to the care of businessmen and waits for the girl, Ida Putiak, to be free. She\'s pretty but not very bright, and Lewis freely parodies her ungrammatical conversation.
When Babbitt asks Ida to dine with him that evening, she accepts, but the date is a disaster. Babbitt\'s car breaks down, the headwaiter at the restaurant refuses to serve them liquor, and Ida allows him only one brief kiss before refusing him with baby talk. All at once Babbitt feels very foolish.
You\'ve seen Babbitt begin his rebellion. Do you think Lewis wants you to sympathize with Babbitt\'s desire to lead an exciting life? Or to feel that Babbitt is being foolish? Or both?
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