Notes

The concluding chapter of the book describes Carol's final homecoming. It is totally different from her first two homecomings. The first time she felt only a rising sense of panic. Then she had the longing to escape. In her final homecoming is the joyful anticipation of meeting friends-of returning home. When she came as a bride there was the unfair comparison of Gopher Prairie with big cities. But now she compares Washington with Gopher Prairie and feels that there is friendship and warmth in Gopher Prairie.

After a week the euphoria of being back home settles down to a practical acceptance of life as it comes. Her most significant discovery is that nothing has changed in two years. She feels that even if the whole world underwent a change, Gopher Prairie would accept it as a matter of fact and pay attention only to their immediate problems. The new school building revives her faith in Gopher Prairie and she willingly helps in the rest room to relieve the attendant or soothe the farmer's babies. In wearing her eyeglasses on the road she reveals that she is ready to accept the fact that she is growing old.

She sees in her baby girl a torchbearer. She is certain that her daughter would complete the crusade she had started. Her daughter would blow up the smugness. She decides that her one struggle would be to keep Kennicott - to keep herself from 'educating' the children. Even though her idea of the community day celebration is turned into a political affair much to her disappointment, she does not fret. She draws satisfaction from the fact that she kept up the fight.

Table of Contents | Printable Version