Gideon Planish - Comparing To Other Works

Comparing To Other Works

Gideon Planish is considered a minor work and it was obvious Lewis was rehashing many of his old ideas as many themes and points ring familiar with the target being the shady industry of less-than-legitimate fundraising organizations. While the main character was without moral boundaries, he did remain loyal to his wife (a rare quality in Lewis' characters) but he never achieved anything genuine or of substance as he attempted to achieve everything which focused on style and perception. An earlier character of Lewis', Elmer Gantry, crosses paths with Planish several times in the book but their interactions serve only as a method to emphasize to the reader the similarities between the crooks in organized religion and the crooks in general philanthropy.

One of the major reasons causing the novel to be considered relatively minor is the recurring themes of earlier works. These recurring themes imply the creative energy of Lewis was ebbing versus a larger strategy of aligning earlier messages into a larger overall theme. Critics at the time made less than glowing comments and suggested Sinclair Lewis' best days were behind him. The book is not considered one of his best and is usually read by Lewis fans hoping to find a forgotten treasure similar to Dodsworth or The Job.