Main Street
A local schoolteacher who tries to befriend Carol and defend the town's virtues.
II
Mentioned by Kennicott as a cultured resident of Gopher Prairie, a high school teacher who reads Latin.
Chapter IV
Observes Carol's arrival and later becomes a confidante, though she initially represents the town's conventional values.
V
Meets Carol and enthusiastically discusses the town's potential and the Thanatopsis Club.
V
Energetic high school teacher who welcomes Carol, defends Gopher Prairie's spirit, and urges her to join local organizations.
IV
Carol's confidante; advises Carol about Raymond Wutherspoon's singing ability.
IV
Arrives after school and provides Carol with some confidence; her optimistic presence is noted.
VIII
Assists Carol with the dramatic association, though her enthusiasm is tempered by practicality.
II
Visits Carol to deliver a frank assessment of the town's opinions, acting as a mediator and urging Carol to help improve Gopher Prairie.
Chapter IX
Assists Carol with the dramatic association, showing enthusiasm but also conformity.
I
Referenced as having told the truth about the village's prying nature.
V
Vida visits Carol repeatedly, offering encouragement and reporting compliments from the townspeople, but Carol resents her intrusion.
VI
The only person aware of Carol's suffering.
Chapter X
Vida tries to involve Carol in local improvement projects, representing the town's more optimistic but still conformist reform efforts.
I
Carol hopes Vida Sherwin will visit, but she does not come.
Chapter III
Mentioned by Bjornstam as the secret boss of the Thanatopsis Club, though he dismisses her reforms as superficial.
V
Mentioned as a possible influence on Carol's managerial approach to selling culture.
Chapter XI
Supports Carol's efforts but is pragmatic about the town's limitations.
I
Encourages Carol to join the Thanatopsis, describing it as a cozy group that connects with intellectual thoughts.
Chapter II
Mentioned as the behind-the-scenes force in the Thanatopsis Club, though not present in the chapter.
III
Mentioned as a link between the Jolly Seventeen and the Thanatopsis, but does not appear directly in this chapter.
IV
Vida is mentioned as having praised the Thanatopsis for establishing the restroom.
V
Vida listens to Carol's plans but advises patience and working within the system, highlighting the difficulty of enacting change in Gopher Prairie.
Chapter VIII
Tactfully deflects Carol's proposals and redirects the committee to focus on club federation politics.
XII
Supports Carol's efforts but represents the compromise between idealism and practicality in the town's social life.
III
One of Carol's 'lions' at the salon dinner, involved in a controversy about Raymie Wutherspoon.
XV
Vida initially helps Carol with the dramatic association but later criticizes Carol's approach, reflecting the town's conservative attitudes.
Chapter XVI
Supports Carol's initiatives but remains pragmatic about the town's resistance to change.
V
Vida engages in a debate with Kennicott about manual training, representing the town's conventional educational views.
Chapter XVII
Supports Carol in organizing the play and tries to maintain enthusiasm despite the poor execution.
I
Unpacks doughnuts and gingerbread at the cottage, part of the party.
Chapter II
Listed as a member of the dramatic association.
Chapter XVIII
Helps with the play and remains optimistic, encouraging Carol despite the poor performance.
I
Hosts the meeting and proposes the farce 'McGinerty's Mother-in-Law' and later supports 'The Girl from Kankakee.'
Chapter II
Assists Carol with the production and is cast as Mrs. Grimm.
V
As Grimm's timid wife, chatters at the audience as if in a classroom.
VI
Vida Sherwin is mentioned in the newspaper review as having pleased the audience in her role as Mrs. Grimm.
XIX
Assists Carol in organizing the dramatic association, sharing her enthusiasm for reform.
VII
Vida supports the Chautauqua, arguing that even if people don't retain facts, they gain new ideas.
III
One of the few people Carol enjoys discussing Hugh with.
IV
Resigns from the high school and gets married; Carol is her attendant.
Chapter XXI
Observes Carol's growing friendship with Erik with concern, reflecting the town's gossipy nature.
I
Protagonist of the chapter; a 36-year-old schoolteacher grappling with repressed passion, guilt, and a complex emotional attachment to Carol Kennicott.
Chapter II
Now thirty-nine, she finds intellectual companionship with Raymie Wutherspoon at Mrs. Gurrey's boardinghouse, discussing Carol Kennicott and local affairs.
III
Vida advises Raymie to be more assertive, telling him he is the smartest man in town and should glare and talk deep.
IV
Expresses her unhappiness and desire to leave Gopher Prairie, but is comforted by Raymie and marries him in June.
V
Marries Raymie Wutherspoon, continues to be known as Vida Sherwin, resigns from school but keeps one English class, becomes active in Thanatopsis and other committees, pressures Harry Haydock to make Ray a partner.
Chapter XXII
Visits Carol and tries to encourage her to participate in local clubs and activities.
I
Described as finding deep satisfaction in housework and domestic life, contrasting with Carol's restlessness.
II
Vida (now Vida Wutherspoon) visits Carol for the night; they talk late into the evening about Carol's convictions and observations.
V
Observes and comments on Raymie's religious potential, suggesting family prayers.
VII
Vida defends the town's practical reforms, accuses Carol of being an impossibilist and giving up too easily, and announces the successful campaign for a new school building.
Chapter VIII
Acts as Carol's lieutenant and unofficial commander, persuading her to take on community projects like the Camp Fire Girls and the campaign for a village nurse.
Chapter XXIII
Supports Carol's efforts but represents the town's limited, conventional perspective.
I
Sends Raymie to officers' training camp and becomes intolerant in her war fervor.
Chapter II
Rebukes Carol for being pert and opinionated about the war effort, defending the sacrifices of the women.
Chapter XXV
A friend and confidante to Carol, though she represents the conventional attitudes Carol resists.
Chapter XXVI
Vida, now married to Raymie Wutherspoon, observes Carol's behavior with a mix of concern and envy, representing the conventional attitudes Carol rebels against.
Chapter II
Arrives with other women to offer help but is rebuffed by Miles for coming too late.
Chapter XXVII
Assists Carol with the dramatic association, showing enthusiasm for the project.
I
Vida's pride in Raymie's achievements is noted, and she reads war bulletins during Red Cross work.
II
Carol echoes Vida's ideas about 'sane strength' animating Gopher Prairie, showing Vida's influence on her thinking.
V
Vida is lenient to Carol at the surgical-dressing class, contributing to Carol's sense of pleasantness.
XXXI
Observes Carol's discontent and offers conventional advice, representing the town's expectations.
Chapter II
Visits Carol to warn her about Erik Valborg, reveals her past feelings for Kennicott, and urges Carol to conform.
Chapter IV
Vida Sherwin drags Carol to the Jolly Seventeen, where she shares news about her husband Raymie Wutherspoon's war experiences, helping to divert attention from Carol.
I
Expresses fervent pro-war sentiments, advocating for the invasion of Germany.
Chapter II
Overjoyed and possessive of Raymie, faints at his arrival, and later gives up Red Cross work to nurse him.
Chapter XXXVII
Reappears as a friend and neighbor, representing the social fabric of Gopher Prairie.
Chapter III
Vida gives Carol a letter of introduction to a member of Tincomb Methodist Church.
Chapter IV
Mentioned in Kennicott's news as someone who 'made him tired' by looking at the Maje.
I
Cordial but watchful, standing back and looking for imported heresies in Carol.
II
Her triumph in the new school building inspires Carol to get involved.
VIII
Vida is mentioned as having agreed with Bert Tybee's approach to the Community Day.
