So Big

So Big is set in the American Midwest during the early 20th century, a period in which the region underwent profound social, economic, and cultural transformations. Once characterized by its agrarian traditions, small-town ethos, and rural simplicity, the region became a locus of change, reflecting broader national trends. Industrialization, urbanization, technological advancements, and shifting social values shaped the Midwest, influencing its identity and the lives of its inhabitants. 

During this period, the Midwest remained a symbol of traditional American values such as hard work, self-reliance, and community. However, these ideals increasingly clashed with the forces of modernity. The agricultural economy, central to the region’s identity, was challenged by industrialization and the migration of labor to cities. Urban centers like Chicago, Cleveland, and Detroit expanded rapidly, becoming hubs of manufacturing, commerce, and cultural diversity. These changes generated tensions between the old rural ways of life and the new urban realities, tensions that are explored in So Big.

The Midwest’s agrarian economy faced challenges due to mechanization, market fluctuations, and the agricultural depression of the 1920s. Cities in the region became industrial powerhouses, drawing workers from rural areas and immigrant populations seeking opportunities in factories. The consequent growth of cities like Chicago and Detroit reshaped the Midwest’s demographic landscape. Rural-to-urban migration, coupled with immigration from Europe and the Great Migration of African Americans from the South, diversified the region.

Meanwhile, innovations such as automobiles, electricity, and mechanized farming equipment transformed daily life and social dynamics. The automobile, in particular, reduced rural isolation and connected small-town residents to urban centers, accelerating cultural exchange.

The 1920s ushered in a wave of cultural modernism, characterized by changing attitudes toward gender roles, consumerism, and individualism. These ideas often clashed with the Midwest’s more conservative traditions. Prohibition (1920-1933) had a significant impact, as the Midwest became a battleground between reformers advocating for temperance and those resisting federal control. The growing diversity in cities heightened racial and ethnic tensions, as well as conflicts between traditional rural values and urban liberalism. Debates over religion, education, and morality further divided communities. The transformations of the Midwest during the 1910s and 1920s became a rich source of inspiration for American writers such as Ferber. Many explored the region as a microcosm of broader societal changes, capturing its evolving identity and tensions. Literature of the time often grappled with themes of nostalgia, disillusionment, and the conflict between tradition and progress.

Authors like Edgar Lee Masters, Sherwood Anderson, and Willa Cather captured the complexities of small-town life and the tensions of modernization. Many writers lamented the decline of rural life and traditional values, portraying small-town America as both idyllic and stifling. In Main Street (1920) by Sinclair Lewis, the protagonist Carol Kennicott struggles to reconcile her idealized vision of small-town life with the conformity and narrow-mindedness she encounters in Gopher Prairie, Minnesota. Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle (1906) vividly portrays the struggles of immigrant workers in Chicago’s meatpacking industry, exposing the harsh realities of industrial capitalism. Similarly, Sherwood Anderson’s Winesburg, Ohio (1919) reflects the tensions between individual aspirations and small-town constraints, highlighting the psychological impact of modernization.

The changing roles of women were central to Midwestern literature of this era. Willa Cather’s O Pioneers! (1913) and My Ántonia (1918) feature strong female protagonists who navigate the challenges of rural life with resilience and independence. These works celebrate the pioneering spirit while addressing the limitations placed on women in patriarchal societies. The conflict between materialism and idealism is a recurring theme. In So Big, protagonist Selina Peake DeJong embodies the tension between pursuing artistic fulfillment and succumbing to the lure of material success. Ferber uses the Midwest as a backdrop to explore these themes, portraying its people as both shaped by and resistant to societal changes.