Protagonist

Character Role Analysis

Carol Kennicott

It would be weird if Carol Kennicott weren't the protagonist of Main Street, considering how the book spends 95% percent of its time following her thoughts and actions. You might not always like her, but you have to respect Carol's unwillingness to give in to the dullness and mediocrity of Gopher Prairie.

Yeah, it's a real slog, and Carol's story can sometimes get boring and depressing, but Carol shows a lot of resolve by refusing to accept her situation in life. Sure, she never really finds the answers she's looking for, but at least she never gives up the way other characters, like Guy Pollock, do. It's true that Carol is just as flawed as any other human being, but she's also one person going up against the judgment of an entire town. Life can't be easy for her.