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摘 要

德莱塞是美国历史上著名的作家。嘉丽妹妹被公认为德莱塞作品中的杰作。小说主要通过分析嘉丽妹妹对幸福的追求探索嘉利妹妹的性格及命运。本课题通过嘉莉获取物质满足之前和之后的生活状态和精神世界的对比，在发现其转变的过程及结果的基础上，探究影响嘉莉妹妹命运转变的原因。本课题着重分析嘉莉妹妹在物质追求上的转变，包括她奋斗目标的转变及性格的转变以及从社会环境，性格，外貌资本和其他人物入手，探究了造成嘉莉妹妹命运转变的原因。本文意在告诫人们：仅有富裕的物质生活并不意味得到真正的幸福，物质财富与精神财富一样重要。

关键词: 嘉莉；物质财富；精神财富；转变

Contents

1. Introduction 1

2. Literature Review 2

3. The changes of Carrie 3

3.1 The change of objective of the struggle 3

3.2 The change of Carrie’s characteristics 4

4. The Causes of Changes of Carrie 5

4.1 Social environments arise opportunities 5

4.2 Carrie’s characteristics 6

4.3 Carrie’s natural appearance 6

4.4 Other characters make Carrie vainglorious 7

5. Conclusion 8

Works Cited 9

1. Introduction

Theodore Dreiser is one of the greatest writers in American Naturalism. As a representative of his work, Sister Carrie express his naturalistic pursuit through the description of the corrupt and ugly capitalist society of the United States at that time and the criticism of the traditional moral principle of twisted. Because it explains the darkness of the American society at that time. As his works appeared in the literary world, it produced a strong reaction. Carrie become the classic image to be analyzed by the literary critics.

Sister Carrie tells the story of a young country girl in the two cities, Chicago and New York, make a living wandering from place to place. Among them, including her emotional entanglement with two men and in the pursuit of wealth and success on the road of all kinds of adventure. From a country girl to a Broadway star and poverty to extravagant, along the way, Carrie had the earth shaking changes in the material life and the spiritual world.

Carrie, with the naive and hopeful heart, taking on the train to Chicago.What she had then were one ticket and four dollars, and had no idea what exactly she could get in the city. When she first arrived at her sister’s house, she is disappointed at the narrow, humble, and poor-furnished flat and her sister’s strained life. Her only relative, her sister Minnie, could not act as a caretaker and even not a companion. Her sister’s home was not a real home for her, and she was even required to pay for her board there. So as soon as she arrived in Chicago, she was in the whirl of deficiency. Her situation of deficiency became worse when she lost her scantly-paid job because of her untimely cold. During that situation, her sister and brother-in-law wanted her back, because she can not afford the four dollars rent. However, her failure to find another job in the prosperous city almost called an end to her dream to live in the city.

Carrie, a 18 year old girl , is poor. Her poverty is not only reflected in the material world, but also reflected in the spiritual world. Carrie"s life is dull and boring. With the desire to improve the economic situation, she went to Chicago alone and wanted to move closer to the upper class. As Carrie"s material life changes, her spiritual life is changing, including the transformation of her goals and her character. She mistakenly believed that material prosperity would bring her happiness, which also led to her final tragic ending.

The impact of social and natural factors on Carrie is the main reasons dominating her, and these factors are found in Carrie’s tragic fate. She is permitted to live in her sister’s house only on the condition of paying four dollars per week for her room-and-board and when she can not afford that, her sister and brother-in-law refuses to take her in. In addition, the outside environment has great influence on her is great. She can not fulfill her desire of living happily with such little money by honest hard work. And she knows clearly that hard work would not make her become a rich person. Carrie lives in cities like Chicago and New York. Luxurious life in those cities lures her. In face of the poverty and the richness, she chooses the latter. Her endless lust for comfortable and abundant life drives her to be two men"s mistress. Against material comforts, the morality carries little weight. 

2. Literature Review

The appearance of Sister Carrie drew a lot of attention of other writers. The former learner has a lot of famous studies of the cause of change of Carrie’s fate in Sister Carrie.

Abraham (1991) thought that one of the roots of the tragic life of Sister Carrie was that Carrie became the victim of the instinctive desire. Carrie came to Chicago because of the yearning for happiness. She saw her poverty from Drouet’s clothes and knew what kind of talented people were rich. Carrie’s desire was burning from his fashion clothes and bulging wallet. Finally, she was caught in the endless pursuit of desire. Abraham believes that desire is out of need. Carrie is controlled by a feeling, which is uncontrolled and unsatisfied . She was eager to get all the good things in life. However, her desire is endless. when a desire is satisfied, she started to pursue new desires. Because the happiness of meeting the desire is short-lived, which is destined to be forever in the pursuit of her pain.

Donald (1991) stated that Sister Carrie paid more attention on Carrie’s change. He used the "trilogy" to summarize the changes in the material life of Carrie. At first, she turned from a poor country girl to Drouet"s mistress. And at that time, the Masonic which Drouet belonged to is performing a “fund-raisng Play”. She is out of poverty, and lived a life of ease. After that, she met Hester Wood,who is more rich and elegant than Drouet. In order to live a more comfortable life, Carrie left Drouet, and turned into the mistress of Hearst Wood. In the end, she came to New York became the hottest female star on Broadway. Since then, she has lived a life of luxury. In this trilogy, she has been influenced by other people and the main effect is from her two lovers. It can be said that without them, Carrie"s story will be rewritten.

All the researchers have their own opinion on the character of Carrie, and analysis the cause of Carrie’s tragic life. However, most of scholars focused on Carrie’s own material desire and the influence of society, the causes of the change of Carrie are quite shallow. These thesis will discuss Sister Carrie more distinguishable from the change of Carrie and the cause of her change. This article focuses on the study of the heroine Carrie in the pursuit of material enjoyment and their own changes and causes. To sum up, in the process of pursuing material satisfaction, the changes mainly occurred in two aspects of her purpose and character. These changes have social reasons, as well as the social environment and opportunities; That is also the reason why she is wrong, which she is wrong to equate happiness with happiness.Sister Carrie tells a story about a young country girl Carrie who runs after material comforts but ignores spiritual fulfillment. This Carrie’s changes are analyzed in the course of her pursuit of material wealth, with the purpose of arousing people from their dreams and letting them know that the material wealth and spiritual fulfillment are equally important to get happiness.

3. The Change of Carrie

3.1 The change of objective of the struggle

Carrie’s goal is not to say that only material wealth, her goals are both material and spiritual. Even though she is wrong to equate material wealth with happiness and spiritual wealth, it has led to her spiritual goal not to be achieved as material goal. (Matthaei 1982:10-12) Before the material does not meet Carrie, she has only one goal ---to become rich! However, after getting the enough l money, she found that she was wrong and she began to pay attention to her spiritual needs. She did not succeed, because she had been away from the spirit world for a long time, and had not been found in the entrance.

The change of Carrie’s goal starts from her hometown to Chicago. Carrie began to shake off the physical constraints after meeting the Drouet. Only when the material is satisfied, she will turn to the same extreme poverty of the spirit of the world; Only when she is in a state of prosperity , she will aware that material enjoyment is not the only way to make people happy. After falling in love with Hearst Wood , she found a whole new sense of satisfaction. Carrie enjoyed the feeling of being pursued. But if Hester Wood just gave her the passion instead of financially secure, Carrie will not accept him. Even after becoming an actress, Carrie did not stop the pursuit of happiness. She wanted to be liberated from the basic material desires and to be spiritually satisfied in the cause of passion and ambition. However, because Carrie did not understand the meaning of happiness, she did not achieve the real happiness from the extravagant life . Regardless of the career or the single life, she would not be comforted.

Even though she was rich and independent, she was still confused by her happiness. She had tried to imitate the way of life of Hester Wood and Drouet to be happy, and the result was a failure. Then, she indulged in luxury and the result is not happy. Because she was so fanatical about to accumulate the wealth and grab the success, Carrie has lost the opportunity to get spiritual comfort. Although she got the dream of wealth and fame, the spirit of the world is still empty.

3.2 The change of Carrie’s character

When the material life of the family changes, her personality changes. We can see that when her life changes, the virtue is also gradually away from her.

At first, Carrie is pure and beautiful and she has a dream to come to Chicago. She only wants to improve her living conditions by working. In a shoe factory, though it has meager income, she still work hard. She was laid off because of the disease. “For the next day Carrie indulged in the most high-flows peculation. Her fancy plunged recklessly into privileges and amusements which would have been much more becoming had she been cradled a child of fortune. With ready will and quick mental selection she scattered her illusion four-fifty per week with a swift and graceful hand. Indeed, as she sat in her rocking-chair these several evenings before going to bed and looked out upon the pleasantly lighted street, this money cleared for its prospective possessor the way to every joy and every bauble which the heart of woman may desire. I will have a fine time,she thought”. (Theodore Dreiser 1981:136) However, she, who could not find a new job, was in a dilemma. Even so, she did not ask for help from Drouet. When Drout gave her 20 dollars, she refused him and decided to return it to him in second days. However, she finally did not ban the temptation to live comfortable life with gorgeous clothes and agreed to live together with Drouet. From that moment on, Carrie began to degenerate and became more ambitious.

Now, she thought the helpless trouble in the past as a piece of cake. But, in her spiritual world, new problems arise. She seemed to hear her conscience shout at her:"Oh, you"re the loser! Look at those noble man, how will they laugh at you that nasty behavior. Look at the good girls. when they know your sins, they will avoid you. You don"t have to try and you are doomed to failure ." But this little conscience is just the legacy of tradition, environment and habits. After her combination with Drouet because of happiness and the enjoyment of the material, the conscience is far away from Carrie.

When she became acquainted with Hearst Wood , who was better than Drouet, she decided to abandon Drouet. She actually saw her own situation and began to try to change. Hester Wood seems to guide her successfully. After Carrie eloped to New York with Hearst Wood and became the famous actress in Broadway, she met Mrs. Vans. She made Carrie more eager for money, clothing and luxury goods. Carrie"s desire has been completely conquered her thoughts and beat her conscience. When Carrie was in the limelight because of a play, she has been able to completely rely on herself to get all the material she wanted to enjoy. As Hester Wood turned to Carrie for help, her compassion had been swallowed up by more desire. In the end, she abandoned Hearst Wood as she had to do with Drouet. Because he has already been a barrier on her way to get money.

By the end of this, Carrie has been completely from an innocent girl, who wanted to live better life by her hard work, to a cold-blooded lady who betrayed conscience.

4. The Cause of Change of Carrie’s Fate

4.1 Social reasons

Carrie lives in society and it will inevitably be affected by the social environment and the opportunities provided by the community, which is an important reason for her change.

Social environments. The Industrial Revolution gave people more opportunities and leisure time . The story takes place in Chicago and New York which are the center of the American political and economic. , There are all filled with irresistible temptation such as colorful theaters, hotels, shopping centers and dance halls and other places. Chicago is a lucky and successful city which is full of opportunities in career. While New York is full of lies, lonely. And cold isolation. It is much more difficult to live in this city than in Chicago.

Carrie is an ordinary woman, not much wisdom, also is not rational. She always follow her own instincts and feelings to deal with problems. She pays all attentions on material satisfaction. Therefore, Carrie is always affected by the external social pressure (from the upper level of social impact), and in order to determine her own life. She never chooses the way of life according to her own pursuit. In fact, she does not know what is the ideal life. The reason why she failed is she puts more energy into the material rather than the spiritual.

Opportunities. Sister Carrie is a naturalistic novel. Many scenes are accidental. Carrie is a tragic character. She is penniless and looks like trapped at the bottom of the society, but finally she is out of this dilemma by opportunities. Carrie was first to see Drouet when she had been on a train to leave Chicago, and then Carrie had become his mistress. She met Hearst Wood through the introduction of Drouet. If there is no Drouet, Carrie"s story will be rewritten. When Carrie lost her job and decided to go back to her hometown, she was also met Drouet by chance, and her life changed. After Carrie and Hearst Wood went to New York, she became a famous actress because of Broadway. She met Mrs. Vince, who made her have a stronger desire for money, clothing and luxury. Just like the feeling of the first chance to go into the theatre, Carrie succeed through a small part.

4.2 Carrie’s character

Carrie"s tragedy is that she believes that the material, fame and happiness are equivalent, so she has been living in the world of fantasy. At the same time, Carrie is a cautious, sensitive and vainglorious girl. When Carrie go through the streets of the store at the first time, she was deeply attracted by those dazzling small jewelry, clothing, jewelry in the store. She could not wait to feel each piece of jewelry, but she also clearly saw her own situation. Her heart was burning with jealousy, and she thought of a path to riches, which was dark and decayed.

Carrie acted on her goal and she had no moral concerns. Because Drouet can give her a better life including money and clothes, she left the poor sister. Similarly, she left the Drouet with the same reasons. Finally she fallen into Hester Wood"s embrace. Generally speaking, when a woman lost her virginity and purity, she will be condemned by her own conscience. However, Carrie does not bat an eyelid after having sex with two men.

4.3 Carrie’s natural capital

Carrie, the hero of the novel, has a beautiful face. It is this precious gift that makes Carrie have the pride of the appearance and rare opportunity. At the beginning of the novel, when she left her hometown and went to Chicago, Dreiser wrote in the article:“She was only 18 years old and she has a youthful vitality of the beauty. She was born with a good figure, natural bright eyes and a pair of small feet. So she will be outstanding sooner or later.” From here we can see clearly the natural beauty of Carrie. This kind of beauty is like a piece of pure jade, without any impurities. It is this beauty that made a salesman called Drouet eager to talk with Carrie. Such a beautiful woman as Carrie, even dressed as an ordinary clerk, she still can not conceal the distinctive features of her body. Drouet was deeply attracted by the beautiful face of Carrie and he gave a helping hand to her. Carrie"s life might have been a different ending, if it had not been for Carrie"s beautiful appearance to evoke a strong desire for women. In addition, the beauty of Carrie also attracted the other men. For example, when he introduced Carrie to his friend Hester Wood, Drouet praised her for her beauty. In the later, Drouet had invited Hester Wood home, Hester Wood was also attracted by the beauty of Carrie. While Drouet was on a business trip, he was on a date with Carrie. Thus, Carrie"s beauty is enough to make a man crazy. Carrie"s excellent conditions has played a role in her success. She is selected by the boss in the theaters because of her beautiful appearance and the pictures of the other actors as an illustration of the news coverage in order to highlight Carrie"s brilliance. Dreiser wrote in his book: “Because Carrie looks particularly beautiful, they will put a picture of her in significant position.” From these we can see that Carrie"s natural capital has laid a certain foundation for the realization of her good wishes.

4.4 The Influence of Other Characters

Besides the consumption concept and goods in shop window, her lover Drouet and her neighbors all have influenced her a lot. Drouet was accustomed to pay attention to the well-dressed and pretty woman in the street, commenting them from head to feet. One of Carrie’s characteristics was her ability of comprehension. She would imitate in secret that the others emphasize time and again and praise highly. So the women that Drouet was interested were beard in Carrie’s mind.

One night, Drouet praised the grace of Screw’s daughter when she and her mother walking in the street. Which was bared in Carrie’s mind. (Lutherb 2003) Carrie grasped the key to express the beauty of women wholly from Screw’s daughter. So before the mirror, she imitated Screw’s action: pouting her small mouth, raiseing her head slightly at the same time, and holding up her dress.

Another person who influenced Carrie a lot was her neighbor-Mrs. Haier, who always discussed the fortune and position and spoke highly of them. From her speech, Carrie got an thought to distinguish the rank of fortune. Especially when she and Mrs. Haier strolled in the northern district, she saw the rich’s flourish houses and their easy life, which deeply attracted her. Therefore, pale by comparison, she found Drouet’s house is too small and simple. (Kenneths 1992) That house could not satisfy her any more. Just as what Dreiser said--Carrie did not compare her house with the former, but what she had just seen. (Theodore Dreiser 2001:115-161)

After arriving at New York, Carrie’s life had a great change of her new neighbor-Mrs. Wans. They broadened her eye, because they rambled on the Broadway. There gathered, not only all the pretty women who loves a showy parade, but the man who loves to gaze upon and admire them. They formed the ranks composed by pretty faces and magnificent clothes. Carrie peered that the handsome men and beautiful women in elegant clothes gazed Mrs. Wans unscrupulously, and she left she was not the one there although sometimes she also got attention. Beside this, she felt she was inferior to Mrs. Wans and the other pretty women in appearance and self-confident. All those made her get hurt. Therefore, Carrie made a decision-she would never go there unless became pettier. Clearly, we can see that she was yarning for showing off in extravagant clothes. The importance of the clothes got a higher position in Carrie’s heart now.

In addition to the above mentioned factors, the influence of Carrie"s sister and brother-in-law, Hester Wood, Amis, and others, could not be ignored. (Simone 1994) They represent different ideas and attitudes towards life in society. It is because of them that Carrie has known each side of the society, and influenced by their attitudes towards life. It can be said that they are the media between social environment and Carrie.

5. Conclusion

The main character in the Sister Carrie called Carrie is bent on the pursuit of social status and material enjoyment. She is from a country girl to a popular and wealthy female stars. At the same time, along with the change of material life, the spiritual life is also changing: Although she has been a dream of wealth and fame, the spirit of the world became more and more empty. The story of Sister Carrie is in the middle of nineteenth Century, we are able to find a lot of people like Carrie in modern society easily. The idea that "rich material life can bring happiness" still exists in some people"s minds. They insists on the pursuit of material comforts and ignore the spiritual world. Through the analysis and understanding of the tragedy of Carrie, people should be aware of that Just having a rich material life does not mean the true happiness. Material wealth and spiritual wealth are equally important.

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