# Bea Sorenson — Main Street character guide

> Bea Sorenson in Main Street by Sinclair Lewis.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Miss Bea Sorenson, Bea

**First appearance:** 0008-vi

## Who they are

A cheerful Swedish-American hired girl whose plain good sense and steady affection offer Carol a warmth the town's polite ladies never quite manage.

## Relationships

### [Carol Kennicott](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/characters/carol_kennicott)

_professional_

Bea is Carol's Swedish maid and loyal household helper, sharing a warm but unequal employer-servant relationship that transcends mere work.

### [Carol Kennicott](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/characters/carol_kennicott)

_professional_

Bea is Carol's Swedish maid and loyal household helper, sharing a warm but unequal employer-servant relationship that transcends mere work.

### [Carol Kennicott](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/characters/carol_kennicott)

_professional_

Bea is Carol's Swedish maid and loyal household helper, sharing a warm but unequal employer-servant relationship that transcends mere work.

## In the story

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/chapters/iii)

Bea arrives in Gopher Prairie, eager to escape farm life and work as a hired girl. She is awed by the town's size, stores, and amenities.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/chapters/iv)

Hired as a maid; described as plump, radiant, and droll, she becomes a friend and helper to Carol.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/chapters/v)

The maid who helps Carol prepare and serve the afternoon tea.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/chapters/iii)

Carol speaks judiciously to Bea about leftovers, involving her in the household economy.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/chapters/ii)

Mentioned as competent and assisting with household labor.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/chapters/ii)

Mentioned as the subject of criticism for Carol being too chummy with her servant.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/chapters/v)

Bea becomes Carol's confidante, treating her with genuine admiration and sharing a playful, collegial bond.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/chapters/vi)

Out for the afternoon, presumably with her cousin Tina.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/chapters/ii)

Shares a cheerful supper with Carol, recounting a fun afternoon with Tina and her fella.

### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/chapters/iii)

Carol speculates with Bea about Will's delay.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/chapters/vi)

Bakes cookies for Carol's surprise visit to Kennicott's office.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/chapters/vii)

Mentioned by Mrs. Bogart as being at risk from young men; Carol defends her.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/chapters/vi)

Dines with Bjornstam in the kitchen, giggles at his stories, receives his flirtatious attention.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/chapters/iv)

Miles Bjornstam is keeping company with her.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/chapters/vii)

Part of the Bjornstams who, along with Carol's baby, become her only source of interest over three years.

### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/chapters/ii)

Marries Miles Bjornstam in June; her wedding is managed by Carol.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/chapters/viii)

Now married to Miles; receives Carol warmly; described by Miles as a devoted 'mother hen.'

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/chapters/iii)

Wins the Best Baby prize for her son Olaf, but faces scorn from the town's matrons.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/chapters/iv)

Takes Carol to the Norwegian Fair at the Lutheran Church.

### [Chapter XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/chapters/xxiv)

Bea, the hired girl, becomes a close confidante to Carol, representing the vitality and simplicity Carol craves.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/chapters/iv)

Mentioned as a former maid who lived in the cramped, unimproved maid's-room.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/chapters/i)

Miles's wife, chubby and humming, who dotes on both Hugh and Olaf.

### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/chapters/ii)

Falls ill with typhoid and dies; her death is a profound loss for Miles and Carol.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/characters/bea_sorenson
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/main_street_se/characters