《嘉莉妹妹》中嘉莉的人物性格分析
An Analysis of Carrie's Character in Sister Carrie
Abstract: This thesis will make a brief interpretation to social criticism of Theodore Dreir's first masterpiece Sister Carrie. It tells a story of a girl, Carrie, who was reduced from an innocent city immigrant to a commodity, and finally to an actress by the city environment which was permeated with an atmosphere of cealess commercialization. Until now, Sister Carrie is still controversial book. And the thesis will mainly analy Carrie's character, external and internal factors affecting her and the growth of her independent consciousness. According to tho analys, we know this book is still a wake-up call and its significance of social criticism doesn't detract at all with time gone. It is worthwhile to read again.
Key words: Carrie; analysis of character; social criticism
摘 要：这篇论文将对西奥多·德莱塞的第一部代表作《嘉莉妹妹》的社会批判 意义做
一简要阐述。它讲述的是一个由农村到城市的女孩由生活所迫变 为一件待价而沽的商品，最后成为一名演员的故事。至今，这仍然是一 部很有争议的书。本文将主要分析嘉莉的性格、影响她的内外因素和她 独立意识的成长。通过这些分析，我们清楚地知道这本书仍具有警示作 用，并且其社会批判意义并没有随着时间的流逝而有所减损。它值得我 们仔细研读并进行反思。
关键词：嘉莉；性格分析；社会批判
Contents
I. Introduction……………………….…………………………..……. 1
A. An introduction to American Naturalism…………………………….. 1
B. An introduction to Theodore Dreir………………………………… 1
C. An introduction to Sister Carrie…………………………………........ 2
II. Literature Review………………………….……………………… 2
III. Caus for the Shaping of Carrie's Destiny……………………… 4
A. External caus……………………………………........................ 4
1. The social reality …………………………………….................. 4
2. The influence of Drouet and Hurstwood…………………………...6
B. Internal caus……………………………………........................ 7
1. Her understanding of life……………………………………........ 7
2. Her growing independent consciousness …………………………... 9
V. Conclusion……………………...……….. ……….…………………10
Works Cited……………………...…………..…….…………………..11
I. Introduction
A. An Introduction to American Naturalism
When it comes to American Naturalism, we have to start with American Realism, which is a movement or a trend that dominated American literature from the 1860s to 1910s. It is the result of social, political, economic and cultural changes, often concerned with social and psychological problems, revealing the frustration of character in an environment of sordidness and depravity. Gradually, authors' tone in writing becomes less rious and less sympathetic but more ironic and more pessimistic, which generates American Naturalism. So American Naturalism is a more deliberate kind of realism, usually involves a view of human beings as passive victims of natural forces and social environment. As a literary movement, naturalism was initiated in France and it came to be led by Emile Zola. Like the realists, the naturalists in American strove for objectivity and were interested in the commonplace in contemporary life, with a passion for scientific accuracy and an overwhelming accumulation of factual detail (To 164). At the same time, they were more conscious of their philosophical foundations, which draw upon scientific or socioeconomic determinisms (such as Darwinism) for its view of humanity. Here is a d
esire to asrt one's human identity, to define onelf against the social and natural forces one confronts. Horton's comment on American literary naturalism was “Through gloomy, pessimistic, and often bitter, American naturalists could not accept the deterministic attitude of the complete helplessness of man and the view of an amoral and predatory univer and adopt a thoroughgoing scientific attitude in the portrayal of the American scene”(Chang 142). It was applied to express the belief that humans react to things they cannot control, such as the biological need for x and lf-prervation, internal stress, and environmental forces (To 164). Moreover, American Naturalism prepares the way for the writing of the 1920s' “lost generation” and T. S. Eliot.
B. An Introduction to Theodore Dreir
Theodore Dreir (1871-1945), known as one of American greatest writers and the leader of American Naturalism, is remembered for his stinging criticism of the genteel tradition and of what Howells described as the “smiling aspects of life” typifying America. In his fictions, Dreir is apt to deal with the new social problems that have come into bei
ng in a rapidly industrializing America and with his characters driven by lfish motives and influenced by the privileges and limitations of social class(Song 1). As he was influenced by Emile Zola, he depicted the life as it was and discovered the dark side and harsher realities of the social life, bravely attacking the traditional moral standard of America, which impress the reader very much and that is why his Sister Carrie could be chon as the basis of the thesis. And the thesis will mainly focus on the analysis of Carrie's character and the shaping of Carrie's destiny. As we all know, Sister Carrie's publication was not a hit; on the contrary, it was rejected becau of violating genteel tradition and refuted of his vague attitude towards Carrie. As a result, plus his left-oriented views, he has been a controversial figure in American literary history. Besides Sister Carrie, his major works include Jennie Gerhardt, Trilogy of Desire, The Genius, An American Tragedy and The Bulwark.
C. An Introduction to Sister Carrie
Sister Carrie tells a story of a young woman's “Cinderella” life in Chicago in the late 19t
h century. Carrie, unwilling to live in a narrow, poor and boring country, left for Chicago. She is eager to enjoy various pleasures in the life. Especially, she is ambitious to gain material wealth. However, the job she finds at first is too hard for her, and the wages are so low that she has to walk to work and has no warm clothes to protect herlf against the cold winter. To make matters wor, after her sickness, she los her job. The difficulty in finding a job, the cruel reality and the temptation of material life make her lost. She ends up a mistress of a salesman, Drouet. Meanwhile, a hotel manager, Hurstwood, is fascinated with her. Having accidentally stolen the hotel's money, he tricks Carrie into getting on the escaping train with him. Initially, their life is quite steady, but they have a hard life after Hurstwood experiences many tbacks in doing business. Owing to Hurstwood's unemployment, Carrie has to arch for a job. She makes it and leaves him before long. She luckily ris to stardom while Hurstwood is still jobless and turns into a beggar, then commiting suicide in the end. Carrie succeeds in becoming a member of the upper-class, yet she discovers that she is very lonely and empty.
