Final answer:
The novel is 'Babbitt' by Sinclair Lewis. It features George F. Babbitt's journey across conformity, rebellion, and eventual return to convention. It delivers a critical portrayal of American middle-class life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The novel being referred to in the question is Babbitt written by Sinclair Lewis. The protagonist of the novel is George F. Babbitt, a businessman in the town of Zenith. The novel encapsulates Babbitt's rebellion against conformity, influenced by his friend Paul Riesling's imprisonment. Babbitt defies conformity by supporting socialist Seneca Doane and having an affair with Tanis Judique. However, his wife's appendicitis and subsequent rekindling of their marriage mark a full circle return to his previous life. Throughout the novel, Lewis employs sharp satirical elements to critique the patterned mundane life of the American middle-class, their conformity, and lack of individualism.
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