What does Carol dislike about Gopher Prairie? What does she hope to accomplish through her reforms? How does Lewis suggest that Gopher Prairie may not be as bad as Carol imagines?

How does Carol attempt to mentally escape Gopher Prairie? When she finally leaves Gopher Prairie to move to Washington, does she actually leave the town mentally? What is the "Village Virus"? Does Carol ever catch the "Village Virus"?

Why did Main Street create such a literary sensation when it was first published? What was the American reading public's reaction to the novel?

How does the novel end? What is the significance of this ending?

How does Carol's relationship to the townspeople change as the novel progresses. In particular, how do her relationships with Vida Sherwin, Guy Pollock, and Kennicott change?