Notes

This chapter throws light on Carol’s opinion of herself. She sees herself as superior to all other women of Gopher Prairie. Hence she feels confused about her attraction towards Guy Pollock. Though she considers him to be superior to the other men of Gopher Prairie she cannot bring herself to allow him to make any advances towards her. She is more interested in the mind of Guy Pollock but she also feels shocked at herself for harboring dreams of a ‘Prince Charming’. She is aware that Guy Pollock cannot be her ‘Princce Charming’. She knows that neither is Kennicott the Prince. But she knows that Kennicott means home and children and she is also very fond of him. She feels sorry to realize that she can only use the word ‘fond of’ to refer to her relationship to Kennicott.

Her questions regarding professional jealousy are to convince herself that her husband is not as ordinary as Guy thinks. When they have their first quarrel, she feels genuinely upset. But even as Kennicott elaborates on his injured feelings, she reflects on how she hated him, and how rustic he was. She wonders why did she ever marry him. Yet she reminds herself to remember his ‘hominy’ for breakfast. When Kennicott elaborates on his ambitions, she realizes that he is practical and that he aims to make her future secure. She feels touched and even considers herself to be ‘difficile’.

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