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How does The Bulwark portray a Quaker father's struggle against materialism?

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In The Bulwark (1946), Theodore Dreiser portrays the struggle of a Quaker father attempting to protect his children from the pervasive influence of materialism in modern American life.1

The novel depicts this struggle as ultimately unavailing, highlighting the tension between the father's traditional religious values and the encroaching pressures of a society driven by material success. Recognized for its intellectual consistency and polished prose, the work serves as a significant exploration of the conflict between spiritual integrity and the American pursuit of wealth.1