Sister Carrie -Theodore Dreiser

I think the story that stood out the most to me was Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser. I have always been fascinated with city lights and I could almost feel Carrie’s excitement as she neared Chicago. I particularly liked the passage on 572 where Dreiser described the city, writing: “---that mystic period between the glare and the gloom of the world when life is changing from one sphere or condition to another. Ah, the promise of the night. What does it not hold for the weary? What old illusion of hope is not here forever repeated!”  I feel that this passage captures the excitement and adventure Carrie was feeling. As we talked about in class, the city really was presented as a “tempter” to Carrie.

Here was a girl on the brink of adulthood, yet completely unsure and self-conscious of herself. In contrast to this, however, she was also extremely ambitious. As we touched on in class today, Carrie seemed to be infatuated with the idea of how she wanted her life to be. In order to achieve this new lifestyle, she first had to put aside her fears.

 Something I noticed was that Carrie seemed to feel completely inadequate in every situation. Comparing her own plain, blue, dress, she became very conscious of the differences between herself and the man who charmed her on the bus and the fancy, materialistic, women on the Chicago sidewalks. Additionally, Carrie was very timid while job searching, fearing the humiliation she would experience if she were to be turned down. I felt sympathy for her as she was continuously told that experience was needed to be suitable for the job. I thought it was interesting that Carrie then found comfort in wandering with the city crowds. I think there is a safe appeal to being surrounded by people who know nothing about you, as it enables a person to stop fearing judgment and expectations.  Perhaps, this was what Carrie was feeling in that moment.

Carrie was definitely a victim of her environment, demonstrating the naturalist aspect of this novel. Growing up in the country, she was probably not very aware of the big world around her and was naïve because of it. She is also a victim of her new environment as she learns that people can be harsh. I almost wish I could finish this story to see how Carrie adjusts to Chicago.

 I wonder if she does ever find contentment and happiness. I feel like naturalism focuses on human distress and, considering this is a naturalistic novel, maybe I already know the answer to that.