Carol Kennicott

Erik Valborg

Carol is drawn to Erik's artistic sensitivity and youthful idealism, sharing a flirtatious and emotionally intense bond that challenges her marriage.

Vida Sherwin

Vida is Carol's closest female friend and confidante in Gopher Prairie, though their relationship is marked by Vida's well-meaning but sometimes overbearing attempts to reform Carol.

Hugh Kennicott

Hugh is Carol's beloved infant son, and her relationship with him is deeply maternal, though she sometimes feels trapped by the demands of motherhood.

Dave Dyer

Dave Dyer is the local druggist and a minor social acquaintance, with whom Carol exchanges pleasantries and small-town gossip.

Mrs. Bogart

Mrs. Bogart is a judgmental, hypocritical neighbor who constantly criticizes Carol's modern ways and serves as a symbol of Gopher Prairie's narrow-mindedness.

Juanita Haydock

Juanita is a fashionable but shallow young matron in Gopher Prairie, with whom Carol maintains a superficially friendly but ultimately unsatisfying social connection.

Bea Sorenson

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

Miles Bjornstam

Miles is a radical, free-thinking handyman who becomes Carol's ally and kindred spirit in her rebellion against Gopher Prairie's conformity.

Sam Clark

Sam Clark is the genial hardware store owner and a pillar of the community, with whom Carol has a cordial but conventional acquaintance.

Fern Mullins

Fern is a young, vivacious schoolteacher whom Carol befriends and tries to protect from the town's vicious gossip and double standards.

Raymie Wutherspoon

Raymie is a timid, effeminate clerk who admires Carol from afar and becomes a pathetic figure in her attempts to bring culture to the town.

Percy Bresnahan

Percy is a wealthy, flashy automobile salesman from the city who briefly charms Carol with his worldliness, but his shallowness soon disappoints her.

Main Street

Arrives in Gopher Prairie and feels disillusioned by the town's appearance and narrow-mindedness.

I

Carol Milford, a spirited and idealistic college graduate, works as a librarian and dreams of transforming a small town. She meets and eventually agrees to marry Dr. Will Kennicott.

I

Introduced as Carol Milford, a student at Blodgett College, standing on a hill and reflecting on her youthful dreams.

Chapter II

Carol is a senior at Blodgett College, restless and idealistic, dreaming of reforming a prairie town.

III

Reflects on her childhood in Mankato, her father's influence, and her developing interest in town-planning.

IV

Carol's ambition wavers as she doubts her ability to teach, but she redirects her desire for creating a beautiful town toward studying library work in Chicago.

V

At the reception, she is dizzy with music and parting emotions, torn between Stewart's proposal and her own ambitions.

VI

Carol spends a year in Chicago, exploring art, music, theater, and a Bohemian party, but ultimately returns to library work and moves to St. Paul.

VII

Works at the St. Paul Library, feeling unfulfilled despite her efforts to engage patrons and read widely.

Chapter II

Carol is introduced as a college graduate working as a librarian in St. Paul. She is imaginative, restless, and dreams of reforming a small town. She meets and eventually agrees to marry Will Kennicott, seeing him as a path to adventure.

I

Carol Milford, a young librarian, is the central figure of the chapter. She is introspective, idealistic, and somewhat restless, feeling 'shut off from things' in her work.

II

Carol is courted by Will Kennicott during a walk; she is torn between her romantic ideals and his practical charm, ultimately moved by his vision for her role in Gopher Prairie.

Chapter III

Arrives in Gopher Prairie and feels dismayed by the town's appearance and the narrow-mindedness of its residents.

Chapter II

Carol is on the train returning from her honeymoon, feeling distressed by the ugliness and provincialism of the towns and farms they pass. She argues with Kennicott about the need for improvement and dreams of a better future for the land.

III

Arrives in Gopher Prairie, feeling terrified and disillusioned by the town's appearance, but resolves to make the best of it.

Chapter IV

Arrives at her new home, feels both dismay and determination, and seeks comfort in Kennicott's embrace.

Chapter IV

Arrives in Gopher Prairie and experiences a profound sense of disappointment with the town's appearance and social atmosphere.

I

Newly arrived bride, feeling disappointed and suffocated by her surroundings, yet determined to explore and conquer the town.

Chapter II

Takes a walking tour of Gopher Prairie and is deeply disillusioned by its ugliness and lack of charm.

III

Carol is seen by Bea as a quiet, elegant lady in a gray suit, also surveying the town. Her reaction is more reserved and critical.

IV

Carol feels anxious and out of place at the party, trying to fit in but struggling with the provincial social norms.

V

Arrives in Gopher Prairie and is dismayed by the town's ugliness, but resolves to improve it.

I

Accompanies Will on a hunting trip, observes the farm and farmers, and reflects on her feelings of being a parasite and her 'Wonderlust.'

II

Carol is introduced to the boardinghouse routine and meets Raymie Wutherspoon, engaging with him politely but feeling disconnected from his shallow cultural views.

III

The new bride, formerly Miss Carol Milford of St. Paul, welcomed to Gopher Prairie.

IV

Experiences the pride and happiness of her first home, enjoys housekeeping and marketing, and contemplates having a child.

V

Feels restless and seeks intellectual companionship; hosts afternoon tea and begins to imagine reforming Gopher Prairie through culture.

VI

Carol explores Gopher Prairie's library and engages in a conversation with Guy Pollock, feeling increasingly trapped by the town's narrow-mindedness.

Chapter I

Takes charge of redecorating the house, expressing her individuality and taste against the town's norms.

II

Carol feels humiliated by having to beg Kennicott for money and confronts him about her financial dependence.

III

Carol throws herself into preparations for her housewarming party, aiming to make it lively and break from Gopher Prairie's conventions. She becomes a demanding, perfectionist hostess, stunning Kennicott with her elegance.

IV

Hosts the party, decorates the house, and orchestrates activities to break the social decorum.

V

Hostess of the housewarming party, referred to as Mrs. Kennicott.

VII

Carol feels trapped by the monotony and narrow-mindedness of Gopher Prairie, struggling to reconcile her ideals with her daily life.

I

Organizes winter sports, enjoys skating and hunting, but becomes discouraged by the town's lack of enthusiasm and feels bored when alone.

II

Reflects on her dissatisfaction with Gopher Prairie, considers her options for fulfillment, and becomes self-conscious about how others perceive her.

III

Carol feels a surge of youthful freedom, runs and yells in the street, but is shamed by the gaze of three old women and a moving curtain, after which she suppresses her spontaneity and assumes her married identity.

IV

Feels isolated and out of place among the Jolly Seventeen; tries to defend Scandinavian maids and children's access to books, but is rebuffed; ends the chapter weeping in despair.

VIII

Takes the lead in forming the dramatic association and directing the play, facing the town's indifference and criticism.

I

Carol expresses a desire to understand her husband's work and be more attentive, but feels frustrated by his lack of engagement.

II

Devastated by the town's gossip and criticism, feeling betrayed and isolated after learning her efforts at friendship were mocked.

III

Carol expresses concern about being criticized by local merchants and feels constrained by Kennicott's advice to trade locally.

Chapter IX

Organizes the dramatic association and directs the play, facing frustration with the town's limitations.

I

Feels persecuted by the town's mockery, avoids people, and struggles with self-consciousness.

Chapter II

Overhears gossip about herself from Cy Bogart and Earl Haydock, feels exposed and shamed by the town's scrutiny.

III

Carol wrestles with her disgust over Kennicott's tobacco chewing, trying to romanticize him but failing, and ultimately suppresses her doubts.

IV

Visits Lac-qui-Meurt with Kennicott, meets his mother, and returns to Gopher Prairie with renewed confidence but lingering dissatisfaction.

V

Carol remains listless and resentful of Vida's efforts, but finds solace in her friendship with Bea.

VI

Feels agonizing despair and isolation, avoids social gatherings, and hides behind Kennicott's presence.

Chapter X

Carol feels increasingly trapped by the narrow-mindedness of Gopher Prairie but continues to seek outlets for her creativity and idealism.

I

Carol prepares tea and waits for visitors, but her hope turns to despair as no one arrives.

II

Resolves to reform Gopher Prairie, considers planting a seed of change, and feels a sense of freedom and determination.

Chapter III

Feels isolated and disillusioned with Gopher Prairie; explores the town's slum and engages in a candid conversation with Miles Bjornstam.

IV

Carol is greeted warmly by townspeople and invites Guy Pollock to play cribbage.

V

Tries to teach Kennicott to appreciate poetry, but becomes frustrated and eventually gives in to enjoying the movies.

VI

Attends the Jolly Seventeen's bridge party, plays quietly, and offers to host a St. Patrick's Day bridge party to fit in.

Chapter XI

Organizes the dramatic association and selects a play, facing resistance from the town.

I

Attends her first Thanatopsis meeting, initially enthusiastic but becomes disillusioned by the club's superficial approach to poetry; she is elected a member and resolves to use the club for reform.

Chapter II

Explores the city hall and library, dreaming of civic improvements and confronting the town's limitations.

III

Carol visits several town matriarchs to promote her plan for a Georgian-style town, but her enthusiasm is met with deflection and indifference.

IV

Carol feels the stirring of spring and a renewed desire for reform, but her attempts to discuss town improvements are rebuffed by Mrs. Champ Perry and Mrs. Lyman Cass.

V

Carol shares her vision for a community building with Vida, but becomes disillusioned by the town's resistance and her own helplessness.

VI

Feels distaste for the muddy town, seeks someone to share her vision, and impulsively proposes a grand rebuilding plan to Luke Dawson.

VII

Carol encounters Miles Bjornstam and shares her story, seeking a kindred spirit but feeling rebuffed by his cynicism.

Chapter VIII

Proposes charitable reforms for the poor but is rebuffed by the committee; feels frustrated and defeated by the town's resistance to change.

XII

Organizes the dramatic association and directs the play, facing frustration and disillusionment with the town's lack of artistic ambition.

I

Carol walks through the spring landscape, feeling joyful and free, and encounters Miles Bjornstam at his camp.

II

Drives with Kennicott on his calls, participates in the anti-fly campaign, and enjoys the summer cottage community but feels the return to town life stifling.

III

Attempts to start a salon and becomes enamored with pioneer history as a solution to Gopher Prairie's stagnation.

Chapter IV

Her hero-worship of the pioneers dwindles, and she feels a desire to escape.

XIII

Visits Guy Pollock's office; listens to his confession about the Village Virus; admits she finds Gopher Prairie a bore; struggles with her own desire for rebellion versus the pressure to settle down.

XIV

Argues with Will about provincialism, finances, and her role in the marriage; feels humiliated by his 'generosity' and demands a regular allowance.

XV

Carol organizes a dramatic association to bring culture to Gopher Prairie, but becomes disillusioned by the townspeople's lack of genuine interest.

I

Romanticizes her husband's work and sees herself as the wife of a country physician, but by morning her illusions fade.

II

Observes the medical treatment with a mix of excitement and revulsion, reflecting her naivety about rural life.

Chapter III

Waits for Will's return, worries about his delay, and greets him with joy.

IV

Reflects on her husband's professional reputation and the lack of public acclaim for his work.

V

Engages in a brief, introspective conversation with Guy Pollock at the drug store, reflecting on her own nature versus Will's.

VI

Attempts to inject romance and surprise into her marriage, reflects on her role as a doctor's wife, and takes initiative to redecorate Kennicott's waiting-room.

VII

Visits Mrs. Bogart, is horrified by her gossip and hypocrisy, and later tries to engage more with local society.

Chapter VIII

Assists Kennicott with surgeries, struggles with nausea but finds new admiration for her husband's medical work.

IX

Travels with Kennicott, experiences fear and admiration during the blizzard.

Chapter XVI

Continues her efforts to reform Gopher Prairie's cultural life, facing frustration and opposition.

I

Feels disconnected from her husband's lack of interest in Christmas traditions and mourns the loss of her father's sentimental celebrations.

II

Struggles to engage with Kennicott's hobbies, feels a vague ache about postponed motherhood, and retreats from his technical ramblings.

Chapter III

Resolves to leave Kennicott to save her soul from the Village Virus.

IV

Carol discovers her violin with snapped strings and a cigar-band on it, reflecting her stifled creativity and disillusionment.

V

Carol feels trapped and disillusioned, seeking escape from Gopher Prairie's provincialism and yearning for a more conscious life.

VI

Observes Bjornstam from the window, invites him to dine with Bea, feels envious of their connection.

Chapter XVII

Organizes the dramatic performance and experiences frustration with the town's lack of artistic sensibility.

I

Participates in the bobsled party, proposes forming a dramatic club, and feels a temporary sense of triumph and belonging.

Chapter II

Forms the dramatic association, is elected president and director, and invites the Dillons despite Kennicott's disapproval.

Chapter III

Carol feels metropolitan yet shy in the city, enjoys the hotel amenities, and is thrilled by the prospect of attending avant-garde plays.

IV

Explores Minneapolis with enthusiasm, buys a silk frock, and insists on attending plays at the dramatic school.

V

Attends plays in Minneapolis; is deeply moved by Yeats and Dunsany, experiencing a brief imaginative escape, but is pulled back to reality by Kennicott.

Chapter XVIII

Organizes and directs the play, experiences humiliation and frustration over the production's failure.

I

Chair of the play-reading committee, advocates for Shaw's 'Androcles and the Lion' but is outvoted.

Chapter II

Directs the play with ambitious modern staging ideas, clashes with actors over artistic choices, and manages the production logistics.

III

Directs the play, struggles with cast discipline, and tries to inspire artistic commitment.

IV

Attends the tent show and feels disillusioned with Gopher Prairie's lack of appreciation for fine art.

V

Works as director and stagehand, coaxing actors and stagehands, and realizes the play is a failure.

VI

Carol directs the play and afterward tries to inspire the cast to plan another production, but she realizes her efforts have failed and feels beaten by the town's provincialism.

VII

Feels old, detached, and trapped; her smile creaks; she reflects on the word 'escape' and finds interest only in the Bjornstams and her baby.

XIX

Leads the formation of the dramatic association, seeking to bring artistic expression to Gopher Prairie.

I

Reflects on her three years of exile and her growing, unspoken desire to find kindred spirits.

Chapter II

Patroness and manager of Bea and Miles's wedding; persists despite mockery from other matrons.

III

Appointed to the library-board, initially condescending but humbled by the board's knowledge; her reform efforts are thwarted by conservatism and petty disputes.

IV

Carol is unsettled by Kennicott's suggestion to have a baby; she fears and longs but ultimately forgets the idea as their relationship remains stagnant.

V

Carol daydreams of escapes to glamorous cities and exotic places, but is pulled back to the dull reality of her life with Kennicott.

VI

Carol muses on the railroad's importance and her longing for the wider world.

VII

Carol turns to the Chautauqua for inspiration, attends multiple sessions, and feels disappointed by the lack of intellectual substance.

VIII

Discusses the war with Kennicott and Miles; visits Bea and Miles; learns she is pregnant.

I

Pregnant and conflicted, Carol endures sickness and the condescension of town matrons, then gives birth to Hugh and becomes a devoted mother.

II

Feels trapped and kidnapped by the town, seeks refuge in the Jolly Seventeen, and struggles with the invasive presence of her relatives.

III

Finds happiness in domesticity and caring for Hugh, but struggles with the town's prejudice against the Bjornstams.

IV

Now a mother to Hugh, she is more settled but secretly yearns for escape from Gopher Prairie.

Chapter XXI

Struggles with motherhood and the constraints of small-town life, seeking intellectual and emotional fulfillment.

I

Kennicott's wife; Vida sees her as both a rival and an astral self, and later grows critical of her reformist ideas.

Chapter II

Discussed by Vida and Raymie; they critique her wild ideas, her turban, and her failure to appreciate Dr. Kennicott's ability.

III

Mentioned by Vida as someone with 'crazy theories' about anarchism or living on figs and nuts.

V

Vida is jealous of Carol, imagining that Carol might think Kennicott superior to Ray.

Chapter XXII

Returns from honeymoon and begins to feel trapped by the narrow social life of Gopher Prairie.

I

Reflects on her daily routine and feelings of loneliness and dissatisfaction.

II

Carol reads voraciously, buying books and absorbing subversive ideas from modern authors, which shape her critical view of Gopher Prairie.

III

Narrates her critique of small-town life, asserting that the real problem is not rusticity but a deadening conformity and lack of imagination.

IV

Reflects on the town's dullness and her own fear of being ironed into mediocrity.

VII

Carol delivers a lengthy critique of Gopher Prairie's physical and spiritual mediocrity, confesses her lack of a reform program, and defends her desire for exotic, unsettling change.

Chapter VIII

Struggles between conforming to Vida's reformist expectations and her own yearning for beauty and strangeness; she finds temporary solace in her son Hugh but rebels inwardly against her life.

Chapter XXIII

Continues her struggle to find meaning and reform in Gopher Prairie, initiating cultural activities.

I

Feels afraid of Vida's war passion and struggles with her own feelings about Kennicott's potential enlistment.

Chapter II

Tries to exult in the war's promised purification but finds only superficiality and hate among the women; feels insignificant after Miles's critique.

Chapter III

Carol is visited by Percy Bresnahan and experiences a complex emotional reaction, feeling both drawn to and critical of his charm and hypocrisy.

IV

Carol goes fishing with the group, feels resentful of being excluded from fishing, and is skeptical of Bresnahan's authoritative talk about war and politics.

V

Engages in a philosophical debate with Percy Bresnahan, defending her critique of Gopher Prairie and feeling unsettled by his admiration.

Chapter XXIV

Carol becomes more rebellious, seeking connection with the working class and questioning her role in Gopher Prairie.

I

Carol is the focal point of the chapter, experiencing a crisis of sensitivity and dissatisfaction with her life in Gopher Prairie.

Chapter II

Expresses frustration with her husband's friends and feels treated like a servant.

Chapter III

Carol creates her own space by converting a spare room into a private retreat, reflecting her desire for autonomy.

IV

Struggles with housework, questions domestic ideals, and feels trapped by the prospect of a conventional new house.

V

Longs for travel and adventure, but is disappointed by the trip to Joralemon.

Chapter XXV

Feeling trapped and disillusioned with Gopher Prairie, Carol seeks escape and considers leaving for Washington.

Chapter I

Mentioned as the source of Kennicott's frustration; she is distant, critical of Gopher Prairie, and absorbed in caring for their baby Hugh.

II

Defends her husband Will against Mrs. Bogart's insinuations, showing her spirited and independent nature.

Chapter XXVI

Feeling trapped and disillusioned, Carol seeks solace in her friendship with Erik Valborg, but is increasingly aware of the town's judgment and her own unhappiness.

I

Finds renewed wonder in nature through Hugh's questions; seeks solace with the Bjornstams.

Chapter II

Nurses the Bjornstams tirelessly; deeply affected by their deaths and the town's indifference.

Chapter XXVII

Organizes the dramatic association and directs the play, facing opposition from the town.

I

Carol seeks to draw stimulant from Vida's pride to rouse from depression, goes reluctantly to Red Cross work, and silently stitches and packs.

Chapter II

Carol sobs out the story of Bea to Mrs. Westlake, visits Mrs. Flickerbaugh, and feels the trap of small-town life closing in as she sits alone on the porch.

Chapter XXVIII

Returns to Gopher Prairie and begins to accept her life, finding small pleasures in her home and son.

I

Carol is present at the Jolly Seventeen supper, laughs at the gossip about Erik Valborg, and decides to go out of her way to see him.

Chapter II

Attends church with her family, feels restless and critical of the sermon, and becomes fascinated by a mysterious young man.

Chapter III

Carol is distracted during dinner, not tasting the food, and shows interest in Erik Valborg. She inwardly rebels against Uncle Whittier's criticism and reflects on her own age and discontent.

IV

Feels lonely but finds a kindred spirit in Fern Mullins, reflecting on her own youthful desires.

V

Carol visits Erik Valborg at Nat Hicks's shop and agrees to help him with a dramatic club.

VI

Carol muses on Erik Valborg's character and the nature of humor, feeling sympathy for him as a lonely spirit trapped in Gopher Prairie.

VII

Carol is sulky about 'The Girl from Kankakee' but supports Erik Valborg's artistic suggestions during the dramatic club meeting.

Chapter XXIX

Returns from Washington and begins to accept her life in Gopher Prairie, finding contentment in small domestic and social routines.

I

Walks with Hugh along the railroad track, meets Erik Valborg, and engages in a deep conversation about art and ambition, while feeling the pressure of town gossip.

II

Carol is introspective, doubting Erik's worth and her own motives, and resolves to help him without being overbearing.

Chapter III

Defiantly organizes a tennis match for the excluded, feels betrayed by Kennicott's composure.

Chapter IV

Visits Erik's shop, feels drawn to him, and reflects on her father's advice.

V

Carol experiences a surge of happiness and neighborly feeling, but becomes alarmed at her growing attraction to Erik, fantasizing about a life with an artist.

VI

Feels her clothes are disgraceful and her appearance has become small-town; tries to recapture a sense of glamour but fails.

Chapter 1

Introduced as Carol Milford; a college graduate with a passion for reforming and beautifying small towns.

Chapter I

Feels restless and conflicted, drawn to Erik Valborg while struggling with social expectations and her marriage.

Chapter II

Carol grapples with her attraction to Erik Valborg, her fear of gossip, and her desire to escape Gopher Prairie. She feels trapped and conflicted.

III

Carol awakens at three in the morning and harshly judges her love affair as pitiful and tawdry, blaming Main Street for her desire to escape.

Chapter IV

Struggles with her feelings for Erik and her duty to Will; lies to Kennicott about her conversations with Erik.

XXXI

Struggles with motherhood and the monotony of small-town life; finds temporary escape in her friendship with Erik Valborg.

I

Sitting on the porch, she is visited by Erik Valborg. She struggles with her emotions, ultimately asserting they must be friends, but feels empty after he leaves.

Chapter II

Feels betrayed by Mrs. Westlake and dreads social scrutiny; seeks sanctuary with Erik.

III

Carol reflects on her feelings for Erik Valborg and her dissatisfaction with the lack of genuine tragedy in her life.

IV

Lies awake, contemplating leaving Kennicott, then panics and checks on him.

V

Feels insecure and watched by the town; avoids Erik but is consumed by anxiety over gossip.

XXXII

Returns to Gopher Prairie after a year away, feeling a new sense of acceptance and deciding to stay.

I

Carol is on her back porch repairing her baby's go-cart when she overhears Mrs. Bogart's confrontation with Fern Mullins. She later defends Fern against Mrs. Bogart's accusations.

II

Carol is horrified by the town's gleeful gossip about Fern Mullins and Cy Bogart, and reflects on the community's hypocrisy.

Chapter III

Carol seeks out Fern at the hotel, comforts her, and listens to her story, expressing solidarity against the town's hypocrisy.

Chapter IV

Carol tries to defend Fern Mullins, confronts the school board, and witnesses the town's cruelty.

Chapter XXXIII

Living in Washington D.C., working as a clerk, reflecting on her life and deciding to return to Gopher Prairie.

I

Struggles with her feelings for Erik, agrees to end the affair after Kennicott's argument, and feels trapped in her marriage.

Chapter II

Struggles with how to end her relationship with Erik, receives his farewell letter, and after his departure seeks comfort from Kennicott, feeling resigned to her life.

Chapter III

Confronted by Adolph Valborg, she defends herself but is left emotionally shattered, insisting on leaving for California.

Chapter IV

Carol is the focal point of the chapter, facing scrutiny and covert stares from the townspeople regarding Erik Valborg's departure. She skillfully deflects questions by changing the subject to a planned California trip and Raymie Wutherspoon.

V

Leaves Hugh with Aunt Bessie; hopes to remain in California and avoid returning to Gopher Prairie.

VI

Departs Gopher Prairie by train, feeling dreary and thinking of Erik Valborg.

Chapter XXXIV

Returns to Gopher Prairie and begins to accept her life there.

I

Carol journeys with Kennicott, struggles with his tourist habits, finds a brief romantic escape with an artist, and resolves to love Gopher Prairie upon returning.

II

Returns from California, feeling trapped and disillusioned by the unchanged small-town life.

XXXV

Returns to Gopher Prairie and begins to accept her life there, focusing on her home and son Hugh.

I

Strives to be content by cleaning, knitting, and volunteering, but is deeply affected by Mrs. Champ Perry's death and Champ Perry's subsequent decline.

Chapter II

Observes Raymie's return and feels troubled by Vida's intensity.

III

Carol is disillusioned by the town's boosterism and finds no beauty or intellectual stimulation. She feels trapped and unable to endure the town's self-congratulatory attitude.

Chapter XXXVI

Returns to Gopher Prairie and begins to accept her life, finding contentment.

I

Defends the organizer's right to speak, criticizes the mob's actions, and declares her intention to leave Gopher Prairie to find her own work and identity.

II

Decides to leave Gopher Prairie for Washington D.C. with her son Hugh, seeking escape and new experiences.

III

Leaves Gopher Prairie by train, feeling both desolate and liberated; reflects on her marriage and her attraction to Erik Valborg.

IV

Reported to have left Gopher Prairie with her son Hugh for a stay in several cities, including Washington D.C., to participate in war activities.

Chapter XXXVII

Returns to Gopher Prairie and begins to accept her life there, finding contentment in her home and child.

I

Works in the Bureau of War Risk Insurance in Washington D.C., finding both disillusionment and a sense of independence.

II

Carol experiences the graciousness and mystery of Washington, D.C., contrasting it with Gopher Prairie, and finds courage and wisdom in her new life.

Chapter III

Carol moves to Washington, finds a flat with friends, and experiences a new social life while working as an envelope addresser for the suffrage movement.

IV

Carol reflects on her initial view of Gopher Prairie and compares it to other towns she learns about.

V

Carol gains poise and an impersonal attitude through her work in Washington, learning to laugh at the institutions that once intimidated her.

Chapter XXXVIII

Returns to Gopher Prairie with a new attitude of acceptance and resignation.

I

Feeling tired and old in Washington, she encounters the Haydocks and reflects on her life in Gopher Prairie.

II

Carol is on the Powhatan roof with the captain, observing Percy Bresnahan.

III

Attends a motion-picture show and sees Erik Valborg in a film, then reads Kennicott's letters.

Chapter IV

Carol is conflicted about Kennicott's visit, feeling both diffident and drawn to him. She shows him around Washington and is moved by his efforts to please her.

V

Carol attempts to educate Will about architecture and aesthetics, showing her persistent idealism and desire for beauty.

VI

Carol is uncertain about her feelings and future, struggling to decide whether to return to Gopher Prairie.

VII

Experiences a melting of aloofness, asks Kennicott to decide her fate, and reflects on the ordinariness of her life and her significance.

Chapter VIII

Carol is in Washington, D.C., reflecting on her experiences and deciding to return to Gopher Prairie with a renewed sense of purpose.

Chapter IX

Carol undergoes a shift in perspective, feeling sympathy for Gopher Prairie and its people, but later questions her own romanticization of the town.

Chapter XXXIX

Returns to Gopher Prairie and begins to accept her life there.

I

Returns to Gopher Prairie and reflects on her feelings about being back, finding a matter-of-fact acceptance.

II

Returns to Gopher Prairie, feels disillusioned by the town's stagnation, begins working at the restroom, and contemplates wearing spectacles.

III

Discussed by the men; her return and past actions are scrutinized.

IV

Returns to Gopher Prairie and reflects on her experiences in Washington, feeling both amused and hurt by the lack of interest from the townspeople.

V

Carol gives birth to a daughter and contemplates her future, imagining her as a feminist leader or scientist, and planning her education at Vassar.

VI

Defends Hugh's right to express himself and argues against conventional Gopher Prairie child-rearing.

VII

Takes a first shooting lesson, feels radiant and hungry, and reluctantly agrees to go to the movies instead of reading a new book.

VIII

Carol voices her disappointment about the Community Day plan and reaffirms her determination to challenge the town's complacency.