Main Street · Character

Nat Hicks

A local carpenter and handyman, part of the town's working class.

minor

Also known as Nat, Hicks

First appearance: IV

Nat Hicks's tie to Carol Kennicott is one of the pressures that moves Main Street—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

His tailor shop is noted on a side street off Main.

In the storyChapter IIOpen this moment free

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With Carol Kennicott (social): Nat Hicks is a local tailor and minor gossip, with whom Carol has a distant but occasionally irritating social interaction. With Carol Kennicott (social): Nat Hicks is a local tailor and minor gossip, with whom Carol has a distant but occasionally irritating social interaction. With Carol Kennicott (social): Nat Hicks is a local tailor and minor gossip, with whom Carol has a distant but occasionally irritating social interaction.

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Nat Hicks sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Nat Hicks in IV

Character Web

41 connections

A slice of how Nat Hicks sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Main social circle
Town background figures

+36 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the dramatic climax because Carol experiences a psychological reversal: her aloofness melts, and she f…

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Relationships

Carol Kennicott
social · ambivalent
Nat Hicks is a local tailor and minor gossip, with whom Carol has a distant but… How this plays out →
Carol Kennicott
social · ambivalent
Nat Hicks is a local tailor and minor gossip, with whom Carol has a distant but… How this plays out →
Carol Kennicott
social · ambivalent
Nat Hicks is a local tailor and minor gossip, with whom Carol has a distant but… How this plays out →

Carol Kennicott
Nat Hicks is a local tailor and minor gossip, with whom Carol has a distant but occasionally irritating social interaction.
Carol Kennicott
Nat Hicks is a local tailor and minor gossip, with whom Carol has a distant but occasionally irritating social interaction.
Carol Kennicott
Nat Hicks is a local tailor and minor gossip, with whom Carol has a distant but occasionally irritating social interaction.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Nat Hicks in IV

In the story

Nat Hicks appears across 10 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter II
His tailor shop is noted on a side street off Main.
III
Mentioned as one of the Gopher Prairie men Carol associates with Kennicott's tobacco chewing.
IV
Nat Hicks recounts the story of Bresnahan's put-down of Bjornstam, celebrating Bresnahan's wit.
Chapter I
Tailor and roué who invites Kennicott to join a night out with women and alcohol. Represents the temptation of illicit pleasure in the town.
V
Nat Hicks is the owner of the tailor shop where Erik works.
VI
Nat Hicks is mentioned as an example of the type of person whose influence Carol wishes Erik could escape.
VII
Nat Hicks is socially acceptable as a long-time resident and shop owner, in contrast to his workman Erik.
Chapter IV
Mentioned as being in the pool-parlor and sharing the tailor shop with Erik.
V
Becomes less deferential and makes suggestive comments to Carol.
III
Mentions Carol's association with Erik Valborg and makes crude insinuations.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Nat Hicks unlock in the free preview.

See Nat Hicks in IV

See Nat Hicks in Chapter II