Exploration Of Self In Sinclair Lewis’s Main Street

Abstract

This paper explores the theme of American individualism through the character of Carol Milford in Harry Sinclair Lewis’s Main Street. Situated inside the confines of a conservative small town, the novel presents Carol’s inner conflict as she strives to hold onto her ideals of independence, reform, and identity while navigating the pressures of conformity. The study examines the conflict between Carol’s urban upbringing and progressive mind set, which clashes with the stagnant traditions of Gopher Prairie, reflecting broader tensions in American society between the individual and the collective. Through Carol’s personal struggles, ranging from marriage and domestic expectations to professional aspirations and social reform, Sinclair Lewis critiques not only the limitations placed on women but also the more profound ambiguity of American individualism itself. Drawing on sociological and literary perspectives, this paper reveals how Main Street challenges the romanticism of small-town life and highlights the persistent struggle of those who seek change in a world resistant to it.