John P. Marquand's novel, The Late George Apley, marked a significant shift in his literary career, elevating him from a popular writer to one of critical acclaim. The novel, which earned Marquand the Pulitzer Prize in 1938, delves into the intricacies of Boston's upper-class society during a transformative era from 1880 to 1920. Through this, Marquand established a trilogy that explores the constraints of inherited societal norms.

Marquand's Boston Trilogy

The novel is the inaugural installment of a trilogy where Marquand scrutinizes the customs, behaviors, and conflicts within Boston's elite. The Late George Apley focuses on the old Boston society with roots in Puritanism and commerce. The subsequent books, Wickford Point (1939) and H. M. Pulham, Esquire (1941), present contrasting perspectives. Wickford Point highlights the decline of Bostonians with Transcendentalist and artistic backgrounds, whereas H. M. Pulham, Esquire portrays a Boston businessman grappling with contemporary societal pressures.

Social Forms as Confinement

In each novel, Marquand examines how social traditions and beliefs from the past can restrict individuals in the present. This theme is most apparent in The Late George Apley. Thomas Apley, George's father, epitomizes the 19th-century individualistic businessman: intelligent, austere, and uncompromising. His relationship with his son is formal and institutional, with little room for personal connection. Despite their lack of closeness, Thomas is confident in his roles and responsibilities, a certainty George envies but cannot replicate.

George Apley's Struggles

George Apley, unlike his father, struggles to conform to the expectations placed upon him. From a young age, it is determined that he is "not a businessman" and "too easy-going," leading him to roles as an investment counselor, lawyer, and civic leader. Despite his compliance, George is plagued by uncertainty about whether he could have thrived outside of his inherited environment. He is never given the chance to test this mediocrity, as his life's path is predetermined.

Attempts at Rebellion

George makes several attempts at nonconformity, though they are mostly feeble and short-lived. His brief love affair with Mary Monahan, a young Irish Catholic woman, is quashed, leading to his sense of entrapment in a life full of meaningless activity. George's endeavors to escape his societal confines repeatedly fail, as illustrated by his attempts to find solace abroad or on Pequod Island, both of which only bring Boston's influences along with him.

The Family Cycle Continues

George's own son, John, more directly defies the Apley traditions. His social and political views disturb George, and John's life choices, like refusing to join the family business and marrying a divorced woman, signify his rebellion. However, despite his more modern outlook and experiences in World War I, John ultimately returns to Boston, continuing the familial cycle by settling at Hillcrest. George dies with the reassurance that the Apley legacy remains intact.

Humor and Satire Through Narration

Beyond its exploration of social tyranny, The Late George Apley offers entertainment through satire and humor, largely thanks to its narrator, Mr. Willing. Marquand chose to frame the novel as “a novel in the form of a memoir” to parody the subliterary genre of “collected papers” and to provide a comedic lens through Willing's perspective. Willing's staunch commitment to Bostonian ideals and his inability to understand the Apleys' deviations add layers of humor and gentle satire.

Despite Willing's stuffy and narrow view, readers come to understand George Apley deeply. Marquand's portrayal allows readers to be both amused and empathetic towards George's weaknesses and the societal constraints that shaped his life. Through this lens, The Late George Apley stands as an insightful reflection on the pressures of social conformity and the personal toll of maintaining one's familial and societal legacy.