Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates is considered one of the most celebrated novels of the twentieth century. This classic novel is about a couple trying to break free from the stifling conventions of suburban life in the 1950s.
The novel follows Frank and April Wheeler, a seemingly ordinary young married couple who live just outside of Hartford, Connecticut. They have two children, Frank Jr and Maureen, and a life that mostly consists of long, aimless days and nights in a small, perfectly ordinary suburban home. On the surface, all is normal, but beneath the surface are dissatisfactions and aspirations that the Wheelers can’t quite name or recognize.
April and Frank have come to the realization that their lives have grown stale, predictable, and humdrum, and they decide to make a radical and desperate change—they leave their suburban lives behind with the intention of moving to Paris, where they will (they hope) start new lives and find true freedom and fulfillment.
The Wheelers move through the early days of preparations and planning, mixed with a growing sense of excitement and anticipation, but soon reality begins to set in. April’s pregnancy throws a wrench in their plans, and the expense of their proposed move begins to look daunting. The Wheelers’ lack of money, combined with the shame they experience at the idea of leaving their family and friends, leads them to abandon their dreams and instead move out of town to a new house in Revolutionary Road.
It is there, in Revolutionary Road, that the Wheelers’ marriage and this book reach a dramatic climax, with problems and conflicts playing out in dramatic scenes of frustration and disappointment. As the Wheelers struggle to make it work, their situation escalates to a climactic and tragic ending.
Throughout the novel, Yates gives us an intimate glimpse into the private lives of his characters, exposing the resentments, confusion and dissatisfaction hidden beneath the surfaces of 1950s suburban life. The title “Revolutionary Road” is a nod to the idea that the Wheelers are not quite sure which road to take. Events within the novel make it clear, however, that the road they chose—the one they are traveling—is the revolutionary one.
Revolutionary Road is an important and powerful novel, and its characters leave lasting impressions on the reader. Its themes—the search for meaning, alienation in the modern age, and the power of dreams and ambition—are relevant and timeless, and Yates’ writing is beautiful and lyrical. The novel is a must-read for anyone looking for a well crafted and emotionally powerful story about the complexities and struggles of life.
