Main Street / Babbitt

Recently I've become interested in America. All the nasty conflicts between the major political parties, the incessant greed even among those who are inordinately rich, the racism against black people and immigrants and Muslims, the spread of lies, the denial of science—all of these things have made me conscious of wanting to better understand my country and its past.

And that's the reason I picked up Main Street. And I think I did learn a lot about America of today from this book set in the 1910's.

The central character is Carol. She develops lots of ideas about how she wants to improve the world in college and during her time working in big cities, and she married Will and moves with him to start a life in his small town in the Midwest. She tries to improve the town by joining groups and pushing for art and poetry and discussion. She tries to get the schools and city hall improved. She tries to form a dramatic society. Everything she does ends in failure, and Carol is in despair.

It is startling to me to see how contemporary the people she associates with seem, with their self-satisfaction, their pettiness, their tendency to gossip cruelly about anyone who goes against their norms. The town's elite has little to say about the poorer elements of the town, except derision. Political movements to empower women or to unite the farmers to work together for change are quickly squashed.

It's only after Carol leaves and takes a job in Washington D. C. that she is able to return and find a new way to approach change, from within the existing structure.

I'm now inspired to look for other American novels like Winesburg Ohio. I'd love to hear other recommendations.