Revolutionary Road: From dream to nightmare
Becky Meyer
Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
The 1961 novel "Revolutionary Road" by Richard Yates is the work that Leonardo DiCaprio an Kate Winslet used as their inspiration for the film version, and the book is a must-read before viewing the film.
This novel is set in 1955 and revolves around the lives of April and Frank Wheeler, a young married couple with two children struggling to live the American dream of a suburban life.
Frank has, as he says, "the most boring job in New York City you could imagine," and disagreements with April add to his stress and unhappiness. The couple cannot stand the way their neighbors think and act, yet they are slowly becoming just like them. Through Yates' use of recurring themes, the reader easily strolls into the world of Frank and April Wheeler, but once the novel begins, it's impossible to walk away, let alone forget.
The story opens with the Laurel Players, a theater company recently organized in an eastern Connecticut town, rehearsing for the opening night of their rendition of "The Petrified Forest." April Wheeler plays the lead role, and the performance is a disaster. The actors cannot remember their lines, their acting is less than adequate, and April feels humiliated after her performance.
April and her husband Frank drive home and on the way they have an explosive argument that leads to April sleeping on the couch for a time. The story is told in third person, and in the early part of the novel it is from Frank's point of view. Throughout the book, the history of the Wheelers is explained, and oftentimes these background stories are told through Frank's thoughts as he reminisces distractedly.
Frank and April have numerous, small get-togethers at their house, usually inviting their friends Shep and Milly Campbell. Their talks involve in-depth discussions of the stupidity and superficiality of their suburban neighbors, and they very much enjoy making jokes about them. They discuss the way their neighbors think and vow that they will never be snobbish like them.
This novel is set in 1955 and revolves around the lives of April and Frank Wheeler, a young married couple with two children struggling to live the American dream of a suburban life.
Frank has, as he says, "the most boring job in New York City you could imagine," and disagreements with April add to his stress and unhappiness. The couple cannot stand the way their neighbors think and act, yet they are slowly becoming just like them. Through Yates' use of recurring themes, the reader easily strolls into the world of Frank and April Wheeler, but once the novel begins, it's impossible to walk away, let alone forget.
The story opens with the Laurel Players, a theater company recently organized in an eastern Connecticut town, rehearsing for the opening night of their rendition of "The Petrified Forest." April Wheeler plays the lead role, and the performance is a disaster. The actors cannot remember their lines, their acting is less than adequate, and April feels humiliated after her performance.
April and her husband Frank drive home and on the way they have an explosive argument that leads to April sleeping on the couch for a time. The story is told in third person, and in the early part of the novel it is from Frank's point of view. Throughout the book, the history of the Wheelers is explained, and oftentimes these background stories are told through Frank's thoughts as he reminisces distractedly.
Frank and April have numerous, small get-togethers at their house, usually inviting their friends Shep and Milly Campbell. Their talks involve in-depth discussions of the stupidity and superficiality of their suburban neighbors, and they very much enjoy making jokes about them. They discuss the way their neighbors think and vow that they will never be snobbish like them.
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