Short Story Collection: Main-Travelled Roads

Introduction
"Main-Travelled Roads" is a collection of short stories by American author Hamlin Garland, initially released in 1891. Known for his detailed and practical representations of rural life during the late 19th century, Garland provides a series of stories that explore the battles and experiences of Midwestern farmers and their families. The 6 stories in "Main-Travelled Roads" offer an unromantic, unsentimental, and often severe portrayal of the lives of normal individuals, offering an alternative viewpoint to the idealized and romanticized vision of rural America common in literature of that period. It stays among the most considerable and prominent works of American literary regionalism.

1. A Branch Road
In "A Branch Road", the very first story of the collection, the lead character, William, goes back to his hometown after numerous years exercising West. There, he reunites with Agnes, the love of his youth. Although Agnes is now wed to another male, Albert, who treats her inadequately, William remains deeply in love with her. The story tells their ill-fated reunion, as William attempts to convince Agnes to elope with him and escape her unhappy marriage. However, Agnes ultimately chooses task and loyalty to her household over joy with William. Garland informs a melancholic tale of love and loss, depicting a plain contrast between the extreme realities of rural life and the romantic imagine the characters.

2. Up the Coulee
"Up the Coulee" tells the story of Howard, an effective playwright returning to his rural Wisconsin house after achieving fame in the East. There, he challenges the tough, unyielding life of his household, whose farm is located in a coulee (a small valley). Howard feels regret for leaving his household and has a hard time to reconnect with them. He understands how they have endured the cruelty and uniformity of their lives in his lack and have actually ended up being estranged. The story highlights the psychological and physical hardships that rural individuals sustain, foregrounding the styles of sacrifice, family, and the complexities of human relationships.

3. Among the Corn-Rows
This story states the obstacles dealt with by Emmons, an ambitious writer and devoted spouse, as he tries to stabilize his passion for literature and the demands of his family and his farm. He struggles to find meaning in his work and grapples with the failure and frustration of his literary dreams. The persistence of poverty, the drudgery of farm work, and the needs of his partner take a toll on his enthusiasm and imagination. "Among the Corn-Rows" is a research study of ambition and aggravation, highlighting the conflict in between the pursuit of individual goals and the obligations of family and society.

4. The Return of a Private
"The Return of a Private" is the story of a Civil War veteran returning to his Midwestern farm after years of battling. He struggles to reintegrate into civilian life and faces difficulty, hardship, and a separated relationship with his wife and kids. The government supplies little assistance, and his neighborhood is indifferent to his plight. The story explores themes of hopelessness, alienation, and disillusionment in the aftermath of war.

5. Under the Lion's Paw
"Under the Lion's Paw" is a powerful story of a farmer, Tim Haskins, who is made the most of by a cold-hearted land speculator. Haskins is a renter farmer striving to earn a living for his family on land he believes will be his. Nevertheless, due to a corrupt political system and predatory commercialism, he is dispossessed of his land, condemning him to a life of hardship and misery. The story criticizes the injustices of the socioeconomic system and the ruthless exploitation of the powerless.

Conclusion
Through these 6 stories, Hamlin Garland presents a vibrant and unflinching portrayal of rural life in the late 19th century. This collection works as a powerful critique of the idealized and romanticized depictions of the American Midwest that were popular throughout this period. "Main-Travelled Roads" emphasizes the extreme truths of poverty, the struggle for survival, and the disillusionment of dreams amidst a landscape of despondence.