Main Street | Quotes

This interesting statement in the preface of the novel sets the tone for the entire book. The narrator (and the author) intend to use Main Street to satirize the provincialism and narrow-mindedness of small-town America.

With this observation, the narrator explains the dispiriting situation endured by many intelligent women of the early 20th century. With no work or activities to challenge their minds, these women felt trapped.

Miles Bjornstam, the cynical critic of Gopher Prairie, is commenting on the materialism of the town, where financial gain has become more important than religion or morality.

After trying to steer the Thanatopsis Club toward more meaningful topics and intelligent discussion, Carol realizes the members are not open to change. She gives up, and votes for the bland and meaningless topics they have chosen.

Carol is voicing the frustrations of women, minority groups, immigrants, and others who are told to wait patiently for reform, even if it means putting off progress until the next generation.

When Carol tries to help people see aspects of the divine in art and nature, she realizes the townspeople's narrow minds cannot understand anything but the most literal meaning of the word holy.

After several attempts to introduce reform, Carol dully realizes nothing in the town or in her life will ever change.

These images are used by Carol to describe the attitudes found in small towns, and the reasons intelligent young people are fleeing to the cities.

When Erik Valborg hints that he might be willing to settle for a more traditional life, Carol fears the town is trampling his dreams and ambitions just as it destroyed hers. She is urging Erik to resist the efforts of the townspeople to make him conform to their standards.

Vida is advising Carol she must live up to certain standards and rules before she can change them. Carol understands what Vida is saying: they must abide by the very rules they disagree with.

Carol bitterly observes that people tend to satisfy their own unfulfilled desires by believing others are guilty of them.

After finding Carol with Erik, Will warns Carol that there are no secrets in Gopher Prairie and that she is naive if she believes otherwise.

After arguing with Will about the rights of women, Carol expresses her dissatisfaction in this sarcastic comment.

Carol is saying that even when she fails, she does not regret the dreams that made her try to achieve something.

With this statement, Carol is telling her husband and herself that even though she may be more accepting of Gopher Prairie, she has never given up her own ideals.