Main Street

The narrative switches focus to Kennicott. Still brooding about Carol’s attempts to change him, Kennicott realizes that Carol herself has been burdened by a role that does not suit her. She is ill-suited to be a housewife in Gopher Prairie. To Kennicott, she seems to be passionless and distant. He wishes she knew how often other women made advances to him, but he will not tell her. At that moment, Maud Dyer comes into Kennicott’s office. She wants an examination, even though Kennicott tells her that this is not necessary. Maud insists, then invites Kennicott to visit her house, mentioning that her husband is away during these days. Kennicott mulls the invitation from the “messy-minded female” (280). He meets with his friends, Hary Haydock and Nat Hicks, who invite him to join them for an evening of debauchery. As well as alcohol, they plan an evening of sexual activity with a woman named Mrs. Swiftwaite, a dressmaker from New York who has newly arrived in Gopher Prairie. Kennicott demurs, insisting that he is “married for keeps” (282) to Carol.

That night, however, his romantic overtures to Carol are rejected once again. Kennicott feels angry and frustrated. He exits the house and, after a walk, finds himself standing outside Maud Dyer’s house. He insists that he will “just drop in for a second” (283). The next day, he sits quietly at breakfast. He seems to be in a thoughtful mood. Mrs. Bogart and Aunt Bessie come to see Carol. They allude to the sexual proclivities of men, suggesting that even Kennicott must sometimes be tempted by other women. Carol reacts angrily. She insists that her husband’s quiet, thoughtful mood is completely innocent. Carol suggests that Kennicott is thinking about mowing the lawn rather than other women.

Carol’s most cherished moments come when she is with her son or with the Bjornstams. Miles’s dairy business is now a success, and Bea is a happy housewife, even if she feels lonely because no neighbors come to visit her. Carol visits the Bjornstams, even though Kennicott does not approve of her friends. Miles recognizes that, in the small town of Gopher Prairie, he will always be a “pariah” (286) due to his political views. For the sake of his wife and son, he is considering moving out West. Carol appreciates the affection that Miles and Bea show to her. When Bea and Olaf both contract typhoid, Carol is devastated. In his role as a doctor, Kennicott visits them often. Carol takes up the role of nurse, dutifully attending to Bea and her baby at any time of day. Kennicott is surprisingly tender and polite, in spite of his dislike for Miles and his politics. Several weeks pass. Maud Dyer, Vida, and the wife of the pastor come to visit Bea. They bring gifts, such as magazines and grapes, but Miles is not happy with them. He asks why they did not visit Bea when she was healthy and in need of friends. According to Miles, the women “ain’t worth God-damning” (290). He shuts the door on them. Bea and Olaf die a few days later. Since word spreads about Miles’s criticism of the three women, the funeral is not attended by the townspeople.

Miles sells his dairy business following the deaths of his wife and son. With a departing curse, he leaves Gopher Prairie. After his departure, the townspeople comfort themselves and justify their dislike of Miles. Their pompous, sanctimonious comments are based on explicit lies that, they hope, will vindicate their actions. According to the townspeople, Miles was a traitor, a blasphemer, and someone who was forced to leave Gopher Prairie under a cloud of shame. The townspeople snidely suggest that he should have been made to purchase more war bonds or offer his voluntary services for the community; they condemn him for his lack of patriotism and assure one another that they should have sent Miles to jail, claiming that he is just like so many of “these German farmers” (291). Throughout this, Carol says nothing. She searches for a way out of her grief, which she finds in Mrs. Westlake and Mrs. Flickerbaugh. Mrs. Flickerbaugh is married to the attorney, Mr. Flickerbaugh. Carol likes her because she shares Carol’s intense hatred for the town. In response, Mrs. Flickerbaugh has become an eccentric who refuses to conform to the expectations of the local people. As Carol returns home one night, feeling particularly frail, she senses that she has been completely trapped by the town. While Kennicott is at Maud Dyer’s house, Carol assures herself that there must be something worthwhile in this town.

Some time later, Carol is in church. While her husband is a Christian, Carol considers herself to be “an uneasy and dodging agnostic” (295). Kennicott appreciates Christianity because it keeps “the lower classes in order” (295). The pastor criticizes labor movements, socialism, and science, claiming that these are just atheism in disguise. Carol takes an interest in two new arrivals in Gopher Prairie. Fern Mullins is a “tall, weedy, pretty, and incurably rakish” (301) young teacher who has moved from the city and taken a room in Mrs. Bogart’s house. Carol and Fern become friends due to their similar backgrounds. Carol also notices an attractive young man who begins appearing around town, though his peculiar mannerisms make him the focal point of much mockery from the locals. He is elegantly dressed; his extravagance makes Carol think that he must be a poet. Instead, she discovers that his name is Erik Valborg and he is the assistant to the tailor. To Carol’s consternation, he has become the subject of much gossip. The local men mockingly refer to him as Elizabeth due to his dress sense and his interest in tailoring and literature. Carol goes to speak to Eric, finding him in the tailor’s shop. To her, he seems naïve. He lacks experience, she notes, but he is keen to learn. Erik is passionate about his ambitions, having been born into a poor farming family. He taught himself everything about tailoring to pursue his dreams. Erik wishes that Carol would be his mentor due to her background in the dramatic society. He begs her to help him with his elocution, and she agrees, though she quietly assures herself that she is not attracted to Erik.

While out for a walk with Hugh, Carol runs into Erik. She encourages him not to abandon his dreams and “go to war on behalf of Main Street” (309). He is not indebted to the potential or the newness of the prairie, she tells him. Erik surprises Carol by asking her why she is unhappy in her marriage. Carol is reluctant to answer. They begin to walk together through the town, whereupon Carol notices that a group of women—including Aunt Bessie and Mrs. Bogart—is watching them. Weeks pass, and Erik tries to ingratiate himself with the people of Gopher Prairie. When he volunteers to run a tennis tournament, he seeks the approval of Harry Haydock and others. On the day of the tournament, however, no one arrives. Erik learns that people are playing elsewhere instead. Carol learns of this and tries to criticize the townspeople. Her criticism has little effect on Haydock. He and the others are certain that they have done nothing wrong. They believe that outsiders such as Erik cannot be hurt because they have thick skin. Juanita comments that Carol’s concern is perhaps due to her own romantic feelings for Erik. Carol furiously denies this. Over the following days, however, her thoughts turn more frequently to Erik. She chides herself for thoughts of “a back-yard romance—with a journeyman tailor” (316). Critically examining herself and her clothes, she fears that she has become a “small-town woman” (319) with the Village Virus.

Fern Mullins invites Carol on a picnic. When Carol is reluctant, Fern begs her as she wants to spend time away from her classroom. Cy Bogart is invited; Fern considers him to be a “brat” (320), but also lively enough. Maud and Dave Dyers are invited, as is Erik. At the picnic, Carol watches Maud flirt with Erik. Carol is jealous, until Erik invites her on a boat ride. When in private, Carol asks him whether she has become “faded and small-towny” (322). He praises her and hints that their relationship could be more than friendship. Carol feels tempted by his offer but she refuses him. The following day, Mrs. Bogart comes to Carol, hoping to piece together the various gossip items she has heard from her son. Carol insists that the trip was “happy and innocent” (324). Privately, however, she understands that Erik’s youth—rather than Erik himself—has made her realize that she will inevitably feel the need to escape the town.

A week later, Carol attends a church dinner. Erik is also there and is seemingly focused on Myrtle Cass. Maud seems to be watching Erik carefully. Carol feels another pang of jealousy. She tells herself how much she loathes these married women who “cheapen themselves and feed on boys” (326). Toward the end of the season, at one of the final parties, Erik tells Carol that he visited Myrtle and spoke to her father. Myrtle’s father offered to give him a job in the flour mill and make him a part of the business. Carol is upset that Myrtle may marry Erik. She warns Erik that such a marriage would force conformity upon him. Erik responds that he would only be with Myrtle so as to forget his true love for Carol. He swears that he will convince Carol to love him. At home, Carol laments that she has become “snarled with lies and foggy analyses and desires” (330). She feels incredibly tired.

Not long later, Erik appears on the doorstep of Carol’s house. On this night, Kennicott is away visiting a patient in the country. Carol tries to present herself as mature and proper, but she cannot deny the palpable sexual tension between herself and Erik. They enter the house, whereupon Erik kisses her eyes. Carol realizes in this moment that she cannot have a relationship with him. She pleads for him to leave, asking for them to just be friends. She believes that this possible affair is only her way to rebel against the “gaping dull people” (333). Two days later, Kennicott is displeased. He has spoken to Mrs. Westlake—one of Carol’s closest confidantes—and has learned many of Carol’s secrets. In fact, Carol realizes, Mrs. Westlake has shared many of Carol’s secrets with many people. Carol apologizes to Kennicott. She feels as though every person in town has been gossiping about her. When Vida visits, Carol feels some relief from this sense of scrutiny, but Vida mentions that she has heard salacious rumors about an affair between Carol and Erik. Vida admits to Carol that she has been hiding her affections for Kennicott for many years. Since Vida gave up her hopes for Kennicott, she explains, she believes that Carol must be loyal to Kennicott rather than betray Vida’s sacrifice. Taken aback, Carol dismisses Vida’s claims as fantastical. She comforts her friend nevertheless. Later, Carol begins to worry about Kennicott. She suspects that he has also heard the same rumors. When she speaks to him, however, he seems to know nothing about her and Erik.