Main Street
Sinclair Lewis makes point of the efforts that Carol produces to reform her newhome. These efforts can be perceived by the townspeople as unwelcomed andunsuccessful. Some of Carol's ideas are ludicrous, out of proportion and not ready forthe slow-moving town. She tries several different approaches to reforming the town fromthe moment of her arrival. She goes from architectural reform to poetic reform to artisticto introducing liberalism to amusing social functions. All of these tactics she hopes willspring forth a reform movement to beautify and culturalize the town and people. Her initial attempts at bringing the town out of its shell consisted of throwing funand exciting parties. Such as her Chinese house-warming party on page
The consistent snide, off-handed remarks and unannounced,unwanted suggestions echo the toils of community theater groups across the presentMidwest. The obstacles she encounters are her own self-criticisms. Again, Carol is frustrated with the progress of the town, and she soonfeels rejected by the social elite at the Jolly Seventeen club on page 78. Carol will neverattain her dream village if she does not learn how to communicate with, understand andwork with the people of Gopher Prairie. Her choice for the leading lady is dictated by thelonging for social acceptance and the simple art of sucking up. Her attempts toopen the minds of the Jolly Seventeen to the issues of the lower class, backfires into adiscussion of foreign incompetencies and laziness. After presumably months of social reclusion,Carol is coerced to attend a meeting of the Thanatopsis club. For the moment she is successful, but soon aftershe implements sledding, skiing and skating outings, people begin to recoil back into theirnormal routines. Her reputation becomes the antithesisof Gopher Prairie social beliefs and structure. She ascertains that hervision of the perfect play has been tainted by the unmotivated, unreliable and unscrupulouscast she has assembled. She experiences theoverwhelming control of small town politics and agreement with association that isexhibited in the play selection process. She plans thissocial event as a way to bring the people out of their normal funeral parlor routine ofsitting in a circle and making small talk. She is revitalized andexcited about this new opportunity she has been given to discuss a favorite topic ofEnglish poetry.
Common topics in this essay:
Gopher Prairie,
Sinclair Lewis,
Jolly Seventeen,
Midwest Carol,
gopher prairie,
jolly seventeen,
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Acceptance Essays
