Main Street

"Main Street" is an outstanding satire that delves deep into the life of a small town in America. Carol Milford, a young and idealistic woman, marries the country doctor Will Kennicott and relocates to his hometown of Gopher Prairie in Minnesota. With great enthusiasm, she plans to transform this town into an idyllic intellectual and aesthetic utopian hamlet. However, she soon discovers the numerous and formidable roadblocks that stand in her way. Anti-intellectualism prevails, provincial politics hold sway, and local gossip runs rampant, all of which are deeply ingrained in the very fabric of Main Street.

Carol's attempts to bring about change are met with resistance and ridicule from the townspeople. She finds herself constantly at odds with the narrow-mindedness and conservatism that pervade the community. Despite her best efforts, she struggles to make a significant impact and realizes that the task of transforming Main Street is far more difficult than she initially anticipated.

Nevertheless, Carol refuses to give up easily. She continues to fight for her vision, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Her story serves as a powerful commentary on the challenges and limitations of trying to effect change in a small, traditional town.

Life

I have to admit that I didn't quite appreciate the style of writing in this particular piece. The constant long listing of names really made it a bit tiresome to read. It felt like the author was more focused on getting all those names out there rather than creating a smooth and engaging flow. However, on the positive side, I did enjoy the story line. It was quite interesting and had the potential to be set during any period in time. This flexibility made it more relatable and allowed my imagination to run wild. I could picture the events unfolding in different eras, with different characters and circumstances. Despite the flaw in the writing style, the story line managed to capture my attention and keep me reading. It made me wonder what would happen next and how the characters would overcome their challenges. Overall, it was an okay read, with a great story line that was slightly hindered by the writing style.

This story served as such a powerful reminder of my upbringing in the Midwest.

I was raised in Illinois, and it was all too easy to witness the prevalence of gossipy, nosy individuals and the organized group mentality that often led to the speaking out against and rejection of anything new.

It was truly a remarkable journey back in time. As I read this, I had the distinct feeling that I had relocated back to the Midwest.

The writing in this piece is sharp, poignant, and piercing. It has a certain charm that evokes a sense of nostalgia.

However, while I cherish the memories and the nostalgia it brings, I have decided that I will be remaining in Los Angeles.

Despite the allure of the Midwest, Los Angeles offers a different kind of lifestyle and opportunities that I am not willing to give up.

This story has allowed me to reflect on my roots and appreciate where I come from, but it has also reaffirmed my choice to make a life for myself in a different part of the country.

I read only Main Street as one of the Top 100 Novels listed by The Modern Library.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Main Street and found it difficult to set the book down. This came as a surprise to me because, as the jacket summarizes, this novel is mainly about a young housewife experiencing life in a rural town in Minnesota (not far from Minneapolis/St. Paul) in the early 20th century. What made this book so captivating was its vivid description of life on "Main Street, USA" in a small town during the 1920s - 1930s. The reader is completely immersed in the setting and characters. There is even a fair amount of outmoded slang that I had to look up on Wikipedia to understand.

One of the themes of the novel is a woman's place in American society during that era. Carol Kennicott, the protagonist, is an intelligent and capable young woman who marries a country doctor after a very brief courtship at the beginning of the novel. The rest of the story follows Carol as she strives to find intrinsic satisfaction and purpose in her life in the new setting of Gopher Prairie, MN. She challenges societal and cultural norms throughout her struggle.

Sinclair Lewis describes the characters in such a way that I am eager to see what happens to them next. They are each quite unique, almost like caricatures. I would compare this book to 'Winesburg, Ohio' or 'The Magnificent Ambersons' as there are many different characters interacting in ways crucial to the plot. The culture and society of the town, already in motion when the protagonist enters, is like a powerful, unstoppable force.

After reading this book, I read the biography and timeline of the author - Sinclair Lewis - at the end. I found Sinclair to be a very interesting person. I plan to come back and read Babbitt, which I have since seen referenced as a cultural touchstone for America and the middle class in the early 20th century. I was especially intrigued to learn that Sinclair had spoken with Eugene V. Debs on more than one occasion. Debs was a Socialist who lived in my hometown of Terre Haute, Indiana. Also, many of Lewis' novels and short stories were adapted into plays and movies. I am excited to see how many of the movies still exist.

'Main Street' increased my interest in American Literature. I was also intrigued by how it seems similar to novels written by other American authors such as Theodore Dreiser, Booth Tarkington, and Sherwood Anderson. The 1920s and 1930s are truly fascinating times in American history!

I've finally managed to find the time to read Sinclair Lewis's Babbitt. It truly is an engaging read.

Unlike the scathing Elmer Gantry and the terrifying It Can't Happen Here, Babbitt showcases Lewis's humorous side, as opposed to his sarcastic one. We can actually laugh along with Geo. F. Babbitt and empathize with his difficult situation, rather than just constantly making fun of him and his flaws.

He is the quintessential middle-class conformist. However, when his closest friend faces a crisis, the middle-aged Babbitt decides to act out and experiences a taste of rebellion. Although he ultimately returns to the mainstream, he still holds out some hope that his son Ted will have the freedom to live his life according to his own wishes.

This book is highly recommended for those who enjoy exploring the complex nature of human characters and the challenges of conforming in society.

The beginning of this work seemed really great.

However, as it progressed, it became overly burdened with an excessive number of details, and this is especially true when it comes to the description of Main Street.

Considering that the story is set in a small town, there are far too many prominent characters.

This makes the narrative a bit convoluted and hard to follow.

With some serious editing, this could have been salvaged.

Personally, I didn't even bother to read Babbitt.

I simply don't want to waste my precious time finishing a book that has already lost my attention.

It's a pity really, because the initial premise had a lot of potential.

But unfortunately, it failed to maintain that momentum and instead got lost in a sea of unnecessary details and characters.

Maybe with a more refined approach, this could have been a really good read.

But as it stands now, it's just not something that I'm interested in pursuing further.

My second favorite Lewis novel is this one.

It's not as engaging as Babbitt, which I consider the best.

The story in this novel progresses at a somewhat slower pace and there are more sections that might seem a bit dry.

However, what makes it still worth reading is the main character.

The main character is someone that readers can relate to.

Despite the flaws in the pacing and the dry spots, the connection that can be formed with the main character makes the novel an interesting read.

It allows the readers to step into the shoes of the character and experience the story from their perspective.

This aspect of relatability compensates for the other不足之处 in the novel and makes it a worthy addition to the works of Lewis.

Overall, while it may not be as outstanding as Babbitt, it still has its own charm and appeal.

Carol was coming to the realization that there was something even more unsettling than intelligent hatred, and that was demanding love.

She suspected that she was being gracefully dull and standardized in the Smails' presence, but they sensed the heretic in her. With a forward-stooping eagerness, they sat and tried to extract her ludicrous concepts for their amusement. They were like the Sunday-afternoon crowd at the Zoo, staring at the monkeys, poking fingers, making faces, and giggling at the resentment of the more dignified creatures.

With a loose-lipped, superior, village smile, Uncle Whittier hinted, "What's this I hear about your thinking Gopher Prairie ought to be all torn down and rebuilt, Carrie? I don't know where folks get these new-fangled ideas. Lots of farmers in Dakota are getting 'em these days. About co-operation. They think they can run stores better than storekeepers! Huh!"

"Whit and I didn't need no co-operation as long as we was farming!" Aunt Bessie triumphed. "Carrie, tell your old auntie now: don't you ever go to church on Sunday? You do go sometimes? But you ought to go every Sunday! When you're as old as I am, you'll learn that no matter how smart folks think they are, God knows a whole lot more than they do, and then you'll realize and be glad to go and listen to your pastor!"

In the manner of those who had just witnessed a two-headed calf, they repeated that they had "never heard such funny ideas!" They were astounded to learn that a real, tangible person, living in Minnesota and married to their own flesh-and-blood relation, could apparently believe that divorce might not always be immoral; that illegitimate children did not carry a special and guaranteed curse; that there were ethical authorities outside of the Hebrew Bible; that men could drink wine and not end up in the gutter; that the capitalistic system of distribution and the Baptist wedding ceremony were not known in the Garden of Eden; that mushrooms were as edible as corn-beef hash; that the word "dude" was no longer frequently used; that there were Ministers of the Gospel who accepted evolution; that some people of apparent intelligence and business ability did not always vote the Republican ticket straight; that it was not a universal custom to wear scratchy flannels next to the skin in winter; that a violin was not inherently more immoral than a chapel organ; that some poets did not have long hair; and that Jews were not always pedlers or pantsmakers.

I read this particular piece because it was brought up in another book in connection with Edith Wharton's work. Since I had never before read anything by the author in question, I made the decision to give it a try.

Published nearly 100 years ago, it astonishingly feels oddly modern at certain moments. Naturally, some of the slang and references are outdated. However, the issues that Lewis writes about still persist in our society today.

We have the prejudices of those with narrow minds, the limitations imposed upon us by the society we inhabit, the consequences of ignorance, and the frustrations experienced by people who are not permitted to engage in meaningful work.

These are all themes that continue to resonate and are relevant in our contemporary world, despite the passage of time. It is quite remarkable how the concerns raised in this work from so long ago still have the power to touch and engage readers today.

The original article is not provided, so I can't rewrite and expand it specifically. However, I can give you a general example to show you how to do it.

Let's assume the original article is: "I like reading. It can expand my knowledge and improve my language skills."

The rewritten and expanded version could be:

I have a great passion for reading.

Reading is like a magical key that unlocks the door to a vast world of knowledge.

Whenever I pick up a book, I am instantly immersed in its pages, eager to explore the ideas and stories it holds.

Through reading, I have been able to expand my knowledge in various fields, from history and science to literature and art.

It has also significantly improved my language skills, enabling me to express myself more clearly and precisely.

In conclusion, reading is not just a hobby for me; it is an essential part of my life that enriches my mind and broadens my perspective.

Although Sinclair Lewis had already had at least four published novels before Main Street, this work and the immediately following Babbitt (which I read for a book discussion a decade ago) were his first truly important ones. Both offer satirical descriptions of American small town life in the second decade of the twentieth century. Despite the humorous exaggeration, they provide an accurate depiction, and surprisingly, not much has changed. While the Gopher Prairies have now become medium-sized cities with strip malls and shopping centers, the attitudes remain pretty much as Lewis depicted them almost a century ago. There is still the complacency, the militant anti-intellectualism, the mindlessly strident conservatism, and religion being used as a substitute for actual thought. The triviality of conversation, the back-biting gossip, the petty dishonesty, and the boredom persist. Gopher Prairie, Minnesota is more or less like Lehi, Utah or Skowhegan, Maine or even the white sections of San Antonio, Texas, as I have experienced them.

Main Street is presented through the eyes of Carol Kennicott, a somewhat more intelligent, educated, and socially conscious Emma Bovary. Like Flaubert's heroine, she tries to live an aesthetic life in decidedly unaesthetic surroundings. However, her interests are largely cultural and political rather than romantic, and I believe she is a more sympathetic character. Her husband, Dr. Kennicott, like M. Bovary, is a small town doctor who loves his wife but has no understanding of her basic desires. The minor characters are mostly well characterized as well, with the poor farmers being drawn much more sympathetically than the townspeople. I could identify with Carol's struggles, the excitement of meeting people who initially seemed to share her interests, the grasping at straws, and the ultimate disillusionment when she realizes that they are basically limited and superficial, only willing to go so far within the cultural confines of the town mentality.

Near the end, Lewis introduces the theme of "boosterism" which becomes the main emphasis of Babbitt. The latter novel is shown through the eyes of a "booster" rather than a rebel, although even he has his moment of rebellion. Both novels are well-written, occasionally funny but ultimately depressing.

In Main Street and Babbitt, Sinclair Lewis, with remarkable elegance and a lack of vulgarity, delves deep into dissecting the profound influence of provincialism on fragile minds.

Main Street serves as a collective portrayal of Midwestern cities in the early 20th century. Inspired by the writer's own hometown, the narrative follows the young and naive Carol Kennicott from St. Paul, Minnesota, as she relocates to the small town of Gopher Prairie with her husband. While Will Kennicott sees Gopher Prairie, with its beautiful edifices and sincere inhabitants, as a symbol of future glory, Carol feels oppressed by the stifling atmosphere of gossip and stagnation. Carol's revolutionism, lacking a clear vector and concrete goal, gradually disintegrates under the watchful eyes of the town's high society. To bridge the divide between Carol and her surroundings, the author introduces an intermediary figure, the old maid Wajda, who serves as an example of how cities grow in reality: slowly, step by step, with visible changes taking decades. In the end, provincialism dampens Carol's radicalism; in this regard, Carol loses the battle against the town.

Main Street has become a byword for narrow-mindedness, materialism, and mediocrity. Convinced that their way of thinking is the only valid one, the citizens of Gopher Prairie view outsiders like Carol or her lover Eric, an eccentric farmer-turned-fashion designer, as overly idealistic. Provincialism consumes its victims, leaving them with just enough awareness to comprehend their downfall. Moreover, as Lewis reflects, it poses a serious threat as it desires not to remain confined within the vast prairies of America but rather to seize hold of the world. The novel Babbitt showcases how the mentality of Main Street operates in cities with 300,000 residents, a step above the small town of Gopher Prairie.

While Carol Kennicott rebels against mediocrity, George F. Babbitt is a quintessential carrier of the provincial gene. Zenith, though larger than Gopher Prairie, mimics it in every aspect: lip service to religion, elite business circles (within which there are subgroups based on accumulated wealth), shallow jokes, and a pretense of loyalty to wives. Broker George F. Babbitt does everything seemingly right, but at a certain point, during what we would now term a midlife crisis, he feels a lack of meaning in both his work and private life. His friend Paul is the only anchor that connects Babbitt to his idealistic youth, when both aspired to pursue their dreams of becoming a violinist and a just lawyer, respectively. Babbitt has always protected and guided Paul into a comfortable existence, much like an older brother. Paul's attempt to kill his wife, whom he no longer loved and could no longer feign love for, unleashes the doubts that Babbitt has long been suppressing.

Although stereotypical, both novels exhibit the same patterns of story construction, and publishing them together (my 1989 Russian edition) was a shrewd decision by the publishers. Both main characters, Carol and Babbitt, rebel against the system with vague and thus unachievable goals of improving the world. Carol's attempts to rebuild Gopher Prairie's society seem more grandiose on paper than Babbitt's doubts about the fairness of the social system. Generally, both heroes passively follow events rather than actively promoting their own agendas. Neither has supporters or sympathizers, and both fail to change themselves or the city.

The socialist theme is present in both novels. Socialism is closely associated with workers' rights, trade unions, and class struggle. Any small concession to workers is considered excessive, and any thought that workers (or immigrants in Main Street) might be justified in their demands for better pay is unacceptable.

Although I cannot claim that any of Lewis's works sound like a must-read classic, there is, deep within me, a reason that draws me back to his writing. Perhaps it is the timeless nature of his themes: a populist dictator seizing power (and now, in light of current events in America, someone could write a similar story with a devout Christian as the American president); a young man seeking his life's purpose; a woman dissatisfied with her marriage or a man experiencing a midlife crisis. His method of presenting ideas would be difficult to imitate: clichés must be stretched to their extremes to become the exact opposite of their original meaning. As my edition states, Lewis deeply loved America and hated it simultaneously, choosing bitter satire to highlight all its flaws.

My review of It Can't Happen Here

My review of Arrowsmith