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.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The City in the 19th Century
2.1. Chicago
2.2. New York
3. The City in American Literature
3.1. In General
3.2. Theodore Dreiser’s City
4. The City in Sister Carrie
4.1. Chicago
4.2. New York
5. The Influence of the City on the Development of the Main Characters
5.1. Carrie Meeber
5.2. Drouet
5.3. Hurstwood
6. Conclusion
7. Literature
Objectives and Topics
This work examines the transformative role of the city as a narrative force in Theodore Dreiser’s 1900 novel, Sister Carrie. By analyzing the urban settings of Chicago and New York, the study explores how these environments influence, shape, and dictate the development, success, or failure of the novel's main characters.
- The historical and literary representation of the city in the 19th century.
- Dreiser’s personal experiences and their influence on his depiction of urban spaces.
- The characterization of the city as a "seducer" or a "magnet" that triggers transformation.
- Comparative analysis of how characters like Carrie, Drouet, and Hurstwood adapt to or are destroyed by the city.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1. Chicago
At the beginning of the storyline, Sister Carrie is set in the Chicago of 1889. Chicago is a booming city that offers various working place and fuels the hope of better life.
In 1889 Chicago had the peculiar qualification of growth which made such adventuresome pilgrimages even on the part of young girls plausible. Its many and growing commercial opportunities gave it widespread fame, which made of it a giant magnet, drawing to itself, from all quarters, the hopeful and the hopeless – those who had their fortune yet to make and those whose fortunes and affairs had reached a disastrous climax elsewhere.
(Dreiser 2004: 10)
Chicago, 1889 a city of about 500,000 inhabitants, is described by Dreiser as a city that has the ambition and the daring of becoming a megapolis. Through the expansion and the growth of the industry and the establishment of the infrastructure, Chicago paves the way for thousands of newcomers.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the focus of the thesis, establishing the city as an active, influencing character in Sister Carrie and posing questions regarding the realistic depiction of urban life by Dreiser.
2. The City in the 19th Century: Provides historical context on the rapid industrialization and population growth of Chicago and New York during the late 19th century.
3. The City in American Literature: Examines the general literary perception of the city in America and discusses Theodore Dreiser’s specific, anthropomorphic perspective on urban life.
4. The City in Sister Carrie: Analyzes how the novel portrays Chicago and New York as magnetic forces that entice newcomers with the promise of glamour and success.
5. The Influence of the City on the Development of the Main Characters: Investigates the individual trajectories of Carrie, Drouet, and Hurstwood to demonstrate how the city dictates their different fates.
6. Conclusion: Summarizes the thesis, reinforcing the argument that the city is a defining, uncontrollable power that shapes the life and eventual downfall or success of its residents.
7. Literature: Lists all primary and secondary sources used for the analysis.
Keywords
Sister Carrie, Theodore Dreiser, Urban Development, 19th Century, Chicago, New York, Character Development, Industrialization, Social Mobility, Disillusionment, Literary Analysis, Urbanization, American Literature, Seduction, Narrative Setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic work?
The work focuses on the role of the city as a transformative element in Theodore Dreiser’s novel Sister Carrie, specifically analyzing how the urban environments of Chicago and New York impact the main characters.
What are the central thematic fields?
The central themes include the influence of urban industrialization, the psychological development of characters, the concept of the city as a seducer, and the dichotomy between desire and disillusionment.
What is the primary research goal?
The research aims to determine how Dreiser uses the city to influence the biography and personality of his characters and to evaluate if his depiction of the cities is grounded in the historical reality of the 19th century.
Which methodology is employed in this study?
The study employs a literary analysis combined with a contextual examination of historical, social, and living conditions in 19th-century America, supported by biographical insights into the author.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body covers the historical development of 19th-century cities, the literary concept of the urban space, and a detailed character analysis focusing on how Carrie, Drouet, and Hurstwood interact with their environments.
Which keywords characterize this study?
Key terms include Sister Carrie, urban development, social mobility, character development, and the literary representation of Chicago and New York.
How does the city function differently for Carrie and Hurstwood?
For Carrie, the city acts as a catalyst for her rise and career growth, whereas for Hurstwood, the city becomes a destructive force that leads to his complete social and personal collapse.
Why is Drouet considered an exception among the characters?
Drouet is unique because he does not undergo significant change throughout the novel, likely because he had already adapted his personality to the urban environment before the story begins.
What significance does the move from Chicago to New York hold?
The relocation serves as a turning point; it accelerates Carrie’s success while simultaneously marking the beginning of Hurstwood’s irreversible decline into despair.
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- Tobias Gasteier (Autor:in), 2011, The Influence of the City on the Development of the Main Characters in Dreiser’s "Sister Carrie", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/187230
