Theodore Dreiser （1871--1945） is considered as an outstanding representative of American realism and the pioneer of American naturalistic Hterature in the 20th century. His first novel Sister Carrie（1900）is a grea...Theodore Dreiser （1871--1945） is considered as an outstanding representative of American realism and the pioneer of American naturalistic Hterature in the 20th century. His first novel Sister Carrie（1900）is a great work ofnaturalist style and the publication of the novel secures his status in the history of American literature. This novel tells a story about Carrie who tries to make the American dream come true. Carrie was born in the countryside. She is poor but vainglorions. With a strong desire for an affluent life in the city, she comes to Chicago, but the harsh reality of unemployment, sickness and indifference of the family make her abandon the original moral value, and she becomes the lover of Drouet, and Hurstwood. Later, she becomes an actress through her own effort in New York, squeezing into the bourgeois ＂higher＂ society. However, her success doesn＇t bring her inner joy and satisfaction, but a huge emptiness and boredom. This paper attempts to analyze the disillusionment of the America Dream pursued by Carrie and draws the conclusion that it is clearly reflected that it＇s fine for people to pursue their dreams, but in a materialistic society without a good set of core values, if they are controlled and trapped by strong desire for material comforts, they will get lost and what they lose will be far more than what they gain.展开更多
文摘Theodore Dreiser （1871--1945） is considered as an outstanding representative of American realism and the pioneer of American naturalistic Hterature in the 20th century. His first novel Sister Carrie（1900）is a great work ofnaturalist style and the publication of the novel secures his status in the history of American literature. This novel tells a story about Carrie who tries to make the American dream come true. Carrie was born in the countryside. She is poor but vainglorions. With a strong desire for an affluent life in the city, she comes to Chicago, but the harsh reality of unemployment, sickness and indifference of the family make her abandon the original moral value, and she becomes the lover of Drouet, and Hurstwood. Later, she becomes an actress through her own effort in New York, squeezing into the bourgeois ＂higher＂ society. However, her success doesn＇t bring her inner joy and satisfaction, but a huge emptiness and boredom. This paper attempts to analyze the disillusionment of the America Dream pursued by Carrie and draws the conclusion that it is clearly reflected that it＇s fine for people to pursue their dreams, but in a materialistic society without a good set of core values, if they are controlled and trapped by strong desire for material comforts, they will get lost and what they lose will be far more than what they gain.
