Main Street
What is Main Street about?
Main Street (1920) follows Carol Kennicott, a progressive young woman who marries a small-town doctor and moves to Gopher Prairie, Minnesota. Her attempts to bring culture and reform to the town meet stubborn resistance from its complacent residents. A devastating portrait of small-town American conformity that became a national sensation.
Main themes in Main Street
Small-town America
The theme of small-town america weaves through Main Street, adding depth to its narrative.
Conformity
Main Street thoughtfully explores conformity through its central conflicts.
Progressive woman
In Main Street, progressive woman provides a lens for understanding the story's core message.
Gopher Prairie
Main Street thoughtfully explores gopher prairie through its central conflicts.
Why Main Street is still relevant today
The novel that made Lewis famous and transformed American fiction's portrayal of small-town life from pastoral to critical.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Main Street about?
A progressive woman moves to a conformist small town and tries to change it — Lewis's devastating satire of small-town America.
Where can I read it?
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