Appearance
Excerpt
Excerpt from Main Street, by Sinclair Lewis
She listened to the Smails and Kennicott trying to determine by
dialectics whether the copy of the Dauntless, which Aunt Bessie wanted
to send to her sister in Alberta, ought to have two or four cents
postage on it. Carol would have taken it to the drug store and weighed
it, but then she was a dreamer, while they were practical people (as
they frequently admitted). So they sought to evolve the postal rate from
their inner consciousnesses, which, combined with entire frankness in
thinking aloud, was their method of settling all problems.
The Smails did not “believe in all this nonsense” about privacy and
reticence. When Carol left a letter from her sister on the table, she
was astounded to hear from Uncle Whittier, “I see your sister says her
husband is doing fine. You ought to go see her oftener. I asked Will
and he says you don't go see her very often. My! You ought to go see her
oftener!”
If Carol was writing a letter to a classmate, or planning the week's
menus, she could be certain that Aunt Bessie would pop in and titter,
“Now don't let me disturb you, I just wanted to see where you were,
don't stop, I'm not going to stay only a second. I just wondered if
you could possibly have thought that I didn't eat the onions this noon
because I didn't think they were properly cooked, but that wasn't the
reason at all, it wasn't because I didn't think they were well cooked,
I'm sure that everything in your house is always very dainty and nice,
though I do think that Oscarina is careless about some things, she
doesn't appreciate the big wages you pay her, and she is so cranky, all
these Swedes are so cranky, I don't really see why you have a Swede,
but----But that wasn't it, I didn't eat them not because I didn't think
they weren't cooked proper, it was just--I find that onions don't agree
with me, it's very strange, ever since I had an attack of biliousness
one time, I have found that onions, either fried onions or raw ones, and
Whittier does love raw onions with vinegar and sugar on them----”
Explanation
Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from Main Street by Sinclair Lewis
Context of the Novel
Sinclair Lewis’s Main Street (1920) is a satirical novel that critiques the conformity, narrow-mindedness, and stifling social norms of small-town America in the early 20th century. The protagonist, Carol Milford Kennicott, is a progressive, idealistic young woman who marries Dr. Will Kennicott and moves to the fictional town of Gopher Prairie, Minnesota. She quickly becomes disillusioned by the town’s pettiness, gossip, and resistance to change. The novel explores themes of individualism vs. conformity, the oppression of women, and the intellectual stagnation of provincial life.
This excerpt highlights Carol’s frustration with the invasive, nosy, and illogical behavior of her husband’s relatives—the Smails—who embody the worst aspects of Gopher Prairie’s culture.
Breakdown of the Excerpt
1. The Postage Debate: Illogical "Practicality" vs. Carol’s Rationality
"She listened to the Smails and Kennicott trying to determine by dialectics whether the copy of the Dauntless, which Aunt Bessie wanted to send to her sister in Alberta, ought to have two or four cents postage on it. Carol would have taken it to the drug store and weighed it, but then she was a dreamer, while they were practical people (as they frequently admitted). So they sought to evolve the postal rate from their inner consciousnesses, which, combined with entire frankness in thinking aloud, was their method of settling all problems."
- The Situation: Aunt Bessie wants to mail a newspaper (The Dauntless) to her sister in Alberta, Canada. Instead of simply weighing the package (the logical solution), the Smails and Kennicott engage in endless, baseless speculation about the correct postage.
- Carol’s Perspective: She is labeled a "dreamer"—implying she is impractical—simply because she suggests a rational, evidence-based approach. The townspeople, meanwhile, pride themselves on being "practical," yet their "practicality" is actually stubborn ignorance and resistance to common sense.
- Literary Device: Irony
- The townsfolk claim to be practical, but their method—"evolving the postal rate from their inner consciousnesses"—is absurdly unscientific and inefficient.
- Their "frankness in thinking aloud" is not honesty but unfiltered, illogical chatter that replaces actual problem-solving.
- Theme: Anti-Intellectualism
- The scene critiques the distrust of expertise and logic in small-town America. Instead of consulting a reliable source (like the post office), they prefer guesswork, reinforcing their insular worldview.
2. The Violation of Privacy: Nosiness as a Social Norm
"The Smails did not 'believe in all this nonsense' about privacy and reticence. When Carol left a letter from her sister on the table, she was astounded to hear from Uncle Whittier, 'I see your sister says her husband is doing fine. You ought to go see her oftener. I asked Will and he says you don't go see her very often. My! You ought to go see her oftener!'"
- Lack of Boundaries: The Smails openly dismiss privacy as "nonsense," treating personal letters and conversations as public property.
- Uncle Whittier’s Intrusiveness:
- He reads Carol’s private letter without permission.
- He judges her family relationships, telling her how often she should visit her sister.
- His tone is condescending and controlling, reinforcing the town’s gossipy, judgmental culture.
- Theme: Oppression of Individual Freedom
- Carol is not allowed autonomy—even her personal correspondence is subject to public scrutiny.
- The town’s lack of privacy is a form of social control, ensuring everyone conforms to expectations.
3. Aunt Bessie’s Rambling Monologue: The Absurdity of Small-Town Gossip
"If Carol was writing a letter to a classmate, or planning the week's menus, she could be certain that Aunt Bessie would pop in and titter, 'Now don't let me disturb you, I just wanted to see where you were, don't stop, I'm not going to stay only a second. I just wondered if you could possibly have thought that I didn't eat the onions this noon because I didn't think they were properly cooked, but that wasn't the reason at all...'"
- Aunt Bessie’s Speech Pattern:
- False Politeness: She claims she doesn’t want to disturb Carol, yet she immediately launches into a long, self-centered rant.
- Passive-Aggressive Criticism: She pretends not to be complaining about the onions but clearly is, while also insulting Carol’s Swedish maid (Oscarina).
- Non-Sequiturs & Circular Logic: Her speech jumps from onions → her health → her husband’s onion preferences → Swedish people’s supposed crankiness, with no clear point.
- Literary Device: Stream of Consciousness (Satirical Version)
- Lewis mimics the rambling, illogical speech of small-town busybodies, exposing how their conversations are self-absorbed, petty, and devoid of real meaning.
- Theme: The Tyranny of Triviality
- The townspeople obsess over meaningless details (like onions) while ignoring larger issues (like Carol’s happiness or intellectual growth).
- Their gossip and nitpicking replace genuine human connection.
Significance of the Excerpt
Carol’s Isolation
- The scene reinforces Carol’s alienation in Gopher Prairie. She is surrounded by people who don’t listen, don’t respect boundaries, and dismiss logic.
- Her intellectual and emotional needs are ignored in favor of mindless conformity.
Satire of Small-Town America
- Lewis mockingly exposes the hypocrisy, pettiness, and intellectual laziness of provincial life.
- The townspeople pride themselves on being "practical" but are actually irrational and invasive.
Gender and Power Dynamics
- Carol, as a woman, is expected to endure this behavior without complaint.
- The older women (Aunt Bessie, Aunt Whittier) assert dominance through gossip and unsolicited advice, reinforcing traditional gender roles.
Foreshadowing Carol’s Rebellion
- These interactions build Carol’s frustration, leading to her later attempts to reform the town (and her eventual disillusionment).
Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters
This excerpt is a microcosm of Main Street’s central conflict: the clash between individualism and conformity, rationality and superstition, freedom and oppression. Through sharp dialogue, irony, and satire, Lewis exposes the absurdity of small-town mentality while sympathizing with Carol’s struggle.
The Smails and Kennicott represent the forces of stagnation—people who fear change, reject logic, and enforce social control through gossip and intrusion. Carol, in contrast, embodies the desire for progress, privacy, and meaningful existence—qualities that Gopher Prairie cannot tolerate.
This passage is not just funny (though it is); it is tragic, because it shows how mediocrity and pettiness can suffocate a thoughtful, independent spirit.