By the Shores of Silver Lake

Laura Ingalls is the novel’s curious and free-spirited yet reliable protagonist. Because the story is largely autobiographical, Laura represents the author’s younger self. She is 12 when the fifth installment of the Little House series begins. She wears her hair “back in long, brown braids” (17), which often unravel due to her energetic behavior. To Laura, the Ingalls’ journey westward is a welcome adventure. Utterly enchanted by the prairie and fascinated with the railroads, Laura revels in how her historical setting combines the rugged beauty of nature and the thrill of innovation. Some of the novel’s most joyful moments depict the protagonist’s exuberant freedom in nature: “Big girl as she was, Laura spread her arms wide to the wind and ran against it” (271). The lively Laura must contend with inner conflict. She chafes against her mother’s desire for her to comport herself as a quiet, mild-mannered young lady and become a school teacher when she grows up. However, she has a strong sense of duty and obedience to her parents. As a result, she spends much of the novel caring for her sisters and assisting her parents with their responsibilities. Although Laura demonstrates mature qualities, such as dependability and a strong work ethic, she also possesses a childlike sense of curiosity and free-spiritedness.