With Sister Carrie Theodore Dreiser made his debut as an author in 1900. The novel tells the story of a young country woman, Carrie, who moves firstly to Chicago and later to New York to forge ahead. Actually, Carrie and Hurstwood, her husband, are the main characters of the novel. But due to its prominence, the city can be seen as an additional character which influences the way of life of everything living in it. The novel’s action takes place in three different cities: Chicago, Montreal and New York. Even though, the cities differentiate in some specifics, they all reflect the concept of city applied in literature. In Sister Carrie the city can be described as a seducer which influences the expectations of the characters (cf. Hussman 1983: 19) and therefore has a say in the biography of all its residents.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The City in the 19th Century
- Chicago
- New York
- The City in American Literature
- In General
- Theodore Dreiser’s City
- The City in Sister Carrie
- Chicago
- New York
- The Influence of the City on the Development of the Main Characters
- Carrie Meeber
- Drouet
- Hurstwood
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyze the portrayal of Chicago and New York City in Theodore Dreiser's Sister Carrie and examine how these urban settings influence the development of the novel's main characters. The study will compare Dreiser's depiction of these cities with historical realities of the late 19th century.
- The city as a character: The impact of urban environments on individual lives.
- Social mobility and the American Dream: The opportunities and challenges presented by city life.
- Desire and disillusionment: The contrast between the allure of the city and the harsh realities.
- Character development: How the city shapes the personalities and choices of Carrie, Drouet, and Hurstwood.
- Realistic vs. fictional cityscapes: Comparing Dreiser's literary portrayal with historical accounts.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Chapter 1: Introduction introduces Dreiser's Sister Carrie and its focus on the city as a significant character influencing the lives of Carrie, Hurstwood, and Drouet. The study's methodology is outlined, focusing on Chicago and New York.
Chapter 2: The City in the 19th Century discusses the rapid growth of American cities in the late 19th century due to industrialization and immigration, highlighting the challenges and opportunities this presented. Sections 2.1 and 2.2 delve into the specific conditions in Chicago and New York respectively.
Chapter 3: The City in American Literature provides a general overview of the city's portrayal in American literature, noting the ambivalent and often hostile perspectives. It then shifts to Dreiser's own perspective, influenced by his personal experiences in Chicago and New York.
Chapter 4: The City in Sister Carrie details Dreiser's depiction of Chicago and New York in the novel. Section 4.1 portrays Chicago as a booming city offering opportunities but also exposing the harsh realities of poverty and hard work. Section 4.2 presents New York as the ultimate destination, a city of dreams and anonymity, but also one with its own set of challenges.
Chapter 5: The Influence of the City on the Development of the Main Characters analyzes how Chicago and New York affect Carrie, Drouet, and Hurstwood individually. Each section (5.1, 5.2, 5.3) explores the character's transformation and relationship with the city.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Theodore Dreiser, Sister Carrie, Chicago, New York City, 19th-century American cities, urbanization, industrialization, immigration, social mobility, American Dream, character development, realism, literary analysis, city as a character, desire, disillusionment.
- Quote paper
- Tobias Gasteier (Author), 2011, The Influence of the City on the Development of the Main Characters in Dreiser’s "Sister Carrie", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/187230
