Rabbit Is Rich

Rabbit Is Rich. It is the third novel in John Updike's acclaimed series chronicling the life of Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom. Set in the late 1970s against the backdrop of the energy crisis and economic malaise, the story finds the protagonist enjoying newfound prosperity as the owner of a Toyota dealership in Brewer, Pennsylvania. The narrative explores themes of middle-aged contentment, familial tension, and the shifting social mores of the era, culminating in significant recognition within the literary world.

Plot summary

The novel opens with Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom comfortably settled into his role as the owner of Springer Motors, a successful car dealership he runs with his wife Janice Angstrom and her mother. His life is defined by relative affluence during the 1979 energy crisis, which boosts sales of fuel-efficient imports. Central plotlines involve his fraught relationship with his wayward son, Nelson Angstrom, who returns from Kent State University with a pregnant girlfriend, Melanie. Rabbit also becomes obsessed with the idea that a local girl, Cindy Murkett, might be his daughter from a past affair, leading to social entanglements with her husband, Webb Murkett, and his country club set. The story builds towards Nelson's tumultuous wedding to Pru Lubell and a climactic trip to the Caribbean, where Rabbit's material and emotional complacency is profoundly challenged.

Characters

The central figure is Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom, now a paunchy, fifty-something businessman. His wife, Janice Angstrom, has gained confidence through her work at the dealership and her involvement with the Flying Eagle Tennis Club. Their troubled son, Nelson Angstrom, is a central source of conflict, alongside his girlfriend and later wife, Pru Lubell. Rabbit's social circle includes the affluent and seemingly perfect couple Webb Murkett and Cindy Murkett, as well as his salesmen Charlie Stavros and Manny. Other key figures are Bessie Springer, Janice's mother, and Ronnie Harrison, a former basketball rival. The specter of Ruth Leonard, Rabbit's former lover, also haunts the narrative.

Themes and analysis

The novel meticulously examines the paradoxes of middle-class prosperity in the United States during the Carter administration. Updike contrasts Rabbit's material wealth with spiritual and familial poverty, using symbols like the Toyota Corona, gold Krugerrands, and the solar panels Rabbit installs. Themes of generational conflict are explored through the clash between Rabbit's World War II-era values and Nelson's disillusioned baby-boomer perspective. The work also delves into sexual anxiety and the search for meaning amidst consumerism, set against a backdrop of national events like the Iran hostage crisis. Literary critics often analyze the book as a portrait of the American Dream in a period of economic stagnation.

Publication history

The novel was published by Alfred A. Knopf in October 1981. It was the third installment in what would become a four-novel sequence, following Rabbit, Run and Rabbit Redux. The first edition featured cover art designed by Barbara de Wilde. It was later included in the omnibus volume Rabbit Angstrom: The Four Novels. The work has been translated into numerous languages and remains in print through various editions from Random House and its imprints, solidifying its place in the canon of late-20th century American literature.

Reception and legacy

Upon its release, the novel received widespread critical acclaim for its vivid social realism and prose style. It won the three major American literary awards for fiction: the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, the National Book Award for Fiction, and the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction in 1982. This prestigious triple crown cemented Updike's reputation as a leading chronicler of American life. The book is frequently taught in university courses on contemporary literature and is considered a defining novel of the 1980s. Its success ensured the continuation of the series, leading to the final volume, Rabbit at Rest, which also won the Pulitzer Prize. The character of Rabbit Angstrom is often compared to other great American literary protagonists from works by Saul Bellow, Philip Roth, and Richard Ford.

Category:American novels Category:1981 novels