conformityIt's a theme that often appears in the book, where the protagonist is urged to fit in with the small town's norms and expectations.
Definitions:
Compliance or obedience to a standard, rule, or law"She struggled with the pressure of conformity in the school."
Similarity or identicalness in character or form."The conformity of their views was astonishing."
provincialA term used throughout the book to describe the small-town mindset, implying narrow-mindedness and lack of sophistication.
Definitions:
Characteristic of the provinces; exhibiting narrow or limited outlook."His provincial attitude didn't go down well in the cosmopolitan city."
A person who lives in, or comes from, the provinces."He was seen as provincial, unpolished compared to city dwellers."
pessimisticA word to describe the protagonist's attitude towards the prospects of the town improving.
Definitions:
Expecting the worst in this worst of all possible worlds."Despite the good news, he maintained a pessimistic outlook."