Summary
In John Updike's novel Rabbit Is Rich, the story of a middle-aged man named Rabbit reflects the spiritual malaise of America as the 1970s draw to a close. Now forty-six and financially secure, Rabbit's growing waistline symbolizes not just his physical decline but also an inevitable confrontation with mortality. The novel captures the essence of a nation seemingly running out of steam, where Rabbit's remaining zest for life fights against encroaching exhaustion.
Backdrop of a Tumultuous Era
The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of late 1979 and early 1980, a time marked by the waning months of Jimmy Carter's presidency. The country grapples with long queues at gas stations, rampant inflation, and the unresolved crisis of American hostages in Iran. Despite these national anxieties, Rabbit remains largely unperturbed, having acquired a stake in Brewer’s Toyota dealership after inheriting it from his late father-in-law Fred Springer in 1974. Since losing their own home to a fire in 1969, Rabbit and his wife, Janice, have been residing in the Springer family house. Meanwhile, their son Nelson is attending Kent State University, and Rabbit finds himself wrestling with his son's rebellious spirit while being haunted by his own past—echoes of his deceased daughter, his mother's voice, and memories of Jill and Skeeter linger. Rather than dragging him down, these memories bolster him as he navigates the autumn of his years.
Rabbit's Changing Pace
In earlier novels, Rabbit seemed out of sync with the times. He fled the staid 1950s and became an observer during the chaotic 1960s. In Rabbit Is Rich, however, he's found a rhythm that matches the 1970s, jogging in step with the decade's fitness mania. The story opens with Rabbit pondering the phrase "running out of gas," which resonates on multiple levels. He's acutely aware of his waning energy as he ages, while the fuel crisis mirrors the nation's precarious state. Spiritually, it points to the depletion of the vigor that once fueled the American Dream. Rabbit observes the deterioration of his desires, noting that "freedom, that he always thought was outward motion, turns out to be this inward dwindling." When questioned about seeing Jaws 2, Rabbit encapsulates the era's creative stagnation by quipping, "D’you ever get the feeling that everything these days is sequels? . . . Like people are running out of ideas."
Material Comforts and Spiritual Void
Rabbit's newfound wealth allows him membership at a country club, participation in Rotary Club luncheons, and a keen interest in Consumer Reports, a testament to his elevated social standing. For Rabbit, consumption and sexuality become coping mechanisms to fill the spiritual emptiness of modern life. In one memorable scene, Rabbit and Janice consummate their relationship on their newly acquired gold Krugerrands. This act is laden with irony—an attempt to merge vitality with the void, underscoring death's inescapable emptiness.
Yearning and Discontent
Rabbit harbors a desire for Cindy, the young, attractive spouse of a new country-club acquaintance. Janice cuts to the heart of Rabbit's restlessness when she remarks, "You always want what you don’t have instead of what you do." During a wife-swapping escapade on a Caribbean getaway, Rabbit is paired with Thelma Harrison instead of Cindy and experiences a new form of sexuality. This encounter is emblematic of the futility and degradation shadowing American culture in the late 1970s.
Family Turmoil
Nelson's return disrupts the family's affluent peace, like a haunting specter of unresolved issues. Inheriting his father's reckless streak minus Rabbit's charm and conscience, Nelson brings chaos with his quest for love and attention, jeopardizing all he touches. He also introduces Pru, his pregnant girlfriend,...
(This entire section contains 715 words.)
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leading to a hastily arranged marriage. In January 1980, Rabbit holds his newborn granddaughter during the Super Bowl, a poignant moment that fulfills his yearning for a daughter—lost when Becky drowned and Jill died. This child symbolizes both hope for the future and a reminder of life's transience.
Cyclical Irresponsibility
Nelson perpetuates the cycle of negligence and misfortune that once ensnared his parents. At one juncture, Rabbit admonishes Nelson, saying: "Maybe I haven’t done everything right in my life. I know I haven’t. But I haven’t committed the greatest sin. I haven’t laid down and died." This sentiment encapsulates Rabbit's character throughout the series—a celebration of vitality and a resistance against the forces of decay and death.