Dreisers Sister Carrie
I think it is very difficult to define the exact character of Dreiser's "Sister Carrie", and his original intention. I would say, "as many eyes, so many opinions", so no wonder there are different approaches and interpretations towards the novel which is influenced not just by the reader's reading or personal experience, but also by their particular philosophy of life as well as knowledge about the historical background."Sister Carrie" can be read as a novel of desire, seduction, or the critique of capitalism and consumerism. It's definitely not the plot or characters which are dominant elements of it. The taste and the literary value of Dreiser's novel is shaped and created by its setting and the author's tone. Chicago and New York have almost as organic and important role in the novel as the characters. They do not just form the simple environment for the novel, but they influence its character and a very strong impression. Chicago's character is kind of more "positive", it is a city of promise, luck, rise (Carrie). We can say that in Chicago, Hurtswood means something. New York 's character is different. It's a city of lies, fall, impersonal isolation of "walled city where surviving is much more difficult than in Chicago. I
Although Carrie does not leave a very "sweet taste" in the readers' mouth, I like her. She imitates everything perfectly and that's why she is becoming what people want her to become. But Carrie lives in a world of prices. She can be seen as a symbol of money. Does Dreiser want to stress that power is a natural and singular masculine right? Dreiser's attitude towards his characters is pretty confusing. I like his comments, observations, and language. I am not saying that her reactions would represent a woman with high moral qualities, but as for the society, it was not her choice. During the reading of "Sister Carrie", I was interested in searching and revealing the different kinds of desire. He views marriage as a contract that gives him a right to control both women without questions. Carrie's fate is determined by her gender, by her environment - cities where she lives - and people, who she is surrounded by. All she longs for is a material wealth, which represents power. He thinks he has the absolute power to make decisions. Many actions take place by accident, by chance which is not of course "spiritual fate" but still forms different kinds of determinism. It seems to me that she is never allowed to express any desire of her own - except for her desire for consumption (admiring and buying clothes).
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Acceptance Essays
