Key words
Sister Carrie, love affair, Chicago, vanity
The reason for choosing the book:
I was attracted by the title: Sister Carrie
The writer was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, USA. Raised in poverty and in a German-speaking environment, he left home for Chicago at age 16. After a period of odd jobs and a year at the University of Indiana, he became a Midwestern newspaper reporter and, in New York after 1894, a magazine feature writer. Sister Carrie (1900), his first and still highly regarded novel, was withheld from general distribution because of its supposed amorality, and its commercial failure plunged him into financial distress and mental breakdown (1904). He later re-established himself as a magazine editor and self-published a second, successful edition of Sister Carrie (1907). The success of the novel Jennie Gerhardt (1911) allowed him to write full time, and The Financier (1912) and The Titan (1914) followed. These novels were ungainly in style but ground-breaking in their naturalism and critique of American capitalist society. The withdrawal from distribution, on moral grounds, of his autobiographical novel, The Genius (1915), ignited a national anti-censorship campaign supported by most of the leading literary figures of the day. His next decade, marked by an energetic output of plays, stories, memoirs, and travel books, culminated in An American Tragedy (1925), a major popular success despite its bleak view of American values. He publicly supported left-wing causes through the 1930s and 1940s, and propounded Socialist ideas in his late works, joining the Communist Party shortly before his death. He had also returned to writing novels, two of which, The Bulwark (1946) and The Stoic (1947), were among his various works published posthumously. As insensitive in his treatment of the English language as he was of many women in his life, he seems destined to survive as a major American writer.
2. Plot
Sister Carrie, the heroin, is a beautiful, pure girl at the age of 18 from the country came to her dream big cities in the novel. She hopes that she can find a job in Chicago and starts a life of happiness. But Chicago is not the heaven imagined, here are all "sweatshop". She managed to find a job in a shoe factory and does as an assembly line worker. The low income is difficult for her to support herself. Because of a bad cold, she had to leave to rest, Sister Carrie lose the job. Living in her sister and brother-in-law’ house, she fails to pay for the meals. The brother-in-law’s attitude is very cold, hoping she coming back home. However, she doesn't want to go back, but nowhere to go, finally has to accept the help from one young handsome salesman, Drouet. The two people cohabitate. Then Carrie settles down and no longer has to worry about the food thing. Lately, she gets acquainted with a hotel manager, Hurstwood, who behaves gentlemanly and is successful in his career. The youth and beauty touch his heart. For Carrie, she thinks Hurstwood is more attractive than her current boyfriend. So they fall in love.
Hurstwood is somewhat upset with his wife, but all his personal property is under her name. Accidentally, he stole a large sum of money from his hotel workplace. Though he regrets immediately, it’s late and he has to cheat the Carrie to flee to New York, hoping they can live together forever. Hurstwood realizes that he has done something stupid and sends most of the money back. In New York, they don’t leave a bounteous life, and finally all their money is spent. Hurstwood can’t find the job to make the ends meet and life is in a mess. So Carrie has to go out and luckily to find a small role in a troupe. Gradually, Carrie is economically independent. She feels Hurstwood is a burden and determines to leave him. The ending of the story is distinctively different for the both. Carrie seizes some sudden opportunities and become a household name with affluent wealth, while Hurstwood suffers the feeling of a loser and sinks into the constant recall of the splendor of past, making a living by begging and eventually commits suicide. Carrie leads a material life she has once dreamt but feels rather lonely in heart.
3. Character analysis-Carrie
The time Carrie comes to Chicago she is still innocent and full of fantasy. Anticipating the appearance of Drouet, as well as being disturbed by the embarrassing situation, Carrie writes a letter to inform him not to visit at her sister’ house. A girl with a strong sense of pride is depicted. The first challenge for Carrie is to find a job in Chicago. As a green hand, it’s not easy. She wishes to earn more than 6 a week. But after a day of tedious hunting for a living, she seems to compromise the harsh reality. Having job is the first, the importance of the wage fades. This is the first stroke for a girl with a wish for the wonderful prospective.
Carrie accepts the work as a shoe maker. Too much early expectations, fancies and disturbed by the realistic harsh sordid working hours, she revolts and subdues. The smelly workshops, rubbish-like circumstances, disgusting workmates and the alerting young men tortured her. When passed by the well-dressed ladies, she stings and envies. A girl distinguishes persons by clothes or material enjoyment does suffer the most under this circumstance.
Carrie determines not to mingle with the low-class, rude workmates, men or women. On the other hand, her resentment for her department seems to be revealed. The brother-in-law seems to do all his mental operations without the aid of physical expression, as still as a deserted chamber. Carrie has the blood of youth and some imagination, full of ideas of love relationships and courtships. She can think of things she would like to do, of the clothes she would like to wear and of places she would like to go. However, the couple tries to convey their life theory to her-toil and save. The degree of the discontentment in Carrie’ mind rockets.
The first important man
Then the first important man as a turning point comes in her life. Whether to lead a life with the poor couple or be a mistress of Drouet, she chooses the second and secretly leaves the struggling house as Carrie’s desire for vanity wins. Drouet is a man who secretly contrives his own plan to purse women, which is a chief delight for him. Firstly, Carrie sinks into misgiving thought, hesitation and mental struggle. In fact, the dilemma between the consciousness and desire lasts for a while. The strong will to live luxuriously overwhelms.
Men always harbor evil ideas, so is Drouet. He is under the disguise of a kind-hearted man to clear the hinder on Carrie’s way. He is actually a hypocritical person in pursuit of woman. No doubt, Carrie’s beauty makes her the prey for him. Carrie, a girl without enough household principles, lost her innocence unconsciously and no longer a maiden. She seems to set on the road becoming a bitch. Though troubled by her phantoms about Mininne, her older sister, she has no retreat, for once on the way, always on the way, hunting for power and money, the vanity.
The second important man
The second important man, Hurstwood, walks into Carrie’s life then. There is a reserve in his manner towards the entire domestic economy of his life which is all that is comprehended by the popular term, gentlemanly. He would not argue, he would not talk freely. In his manner is the dogmatist. What he would not correct, he would ignore. There is tendency in him to walk away from the impossible things. From his perspective, a man, to hold his position, must have a dignified manner, a clean record, a respectable home anchorage.
Though leading a creditable life with an honorable job in a so-called harmonious and happy life with two children, he is not satisfied. Life is boring and numb, in his heart. He envies what Drouet has. Actually, he is wiser than Drouet, only the eye-touching is able to light Carrie’s fire. And Carrie is also smarter than Drouet, learns more from Drouet and some others. She seems to have seized the rules in the vanity and slowly starts a new rule for her game.
Hurstwood flirts with Carrie, who is still tender enough and unable to cover her inner feeling towards others. Is Carrie troubled by his charm or just his power and money? Hurstwood is a skillful and daring man in some degree, without doubt, his life experience is more attractive to Carrie. Carrie, a girl aimed for material thing, shamed and driven by the significant constructions among houses, behaviors, communications, clothes, she is defenseless for the better. She is lost, the struggling moment weigh nothing.
Hurstwood, a man in his situation who comes, after a long round of worthless of hardening experiences, upon a young, unsophisticated, innocent soul, is apt either to hold aloof, out of a sense of his oven remoteness, or to draw near and become fascinated and elated by his discovery. He chooses the second. As Carrie comes fresh from the air of the village, the light of the country is still in her eye. Here is neither guile nor rapacity. There are slight inherited traits of both in her, but they are rudimentary. She is too full of wonder and desire to be greedy. All of these are felt by Hurstwood, especially the youth. Hurstwood is alive with thoughts and feelings concerning Carrie. Such anxiety and enthusiasm have not affected him for years. He is young again in feeling which makes Carrie irresistible.
Carrie finally becomes Hurstwood’s lover. The feeling of sympathy, the loneliness, the understanding from Hurstwood convinces her to be another mistress. She is still an innocent girl, as said, not sophisticated, experienced, she can’t figure out the best way. She cares no consequences. She knows she gets care and love in this indifferent city.
Between Carrie and Hurstwood, can there be love? A poor question. Carrie regards it as love. She would like to leave Drouet and runs into Hurstwood’s hug if Hurstwood wishes. Why Carrie chooses Hurstwood? Drouet seems to have no intention to marry her. At this moment, she gets connects with Hurstwood, the eye connection conveys the love messages. A matured man is really a killer for an innocent girl. Moreover, Carrie may be attracted more by his reputation, his position, his power and his money. To Hurstwood, the presence of Carrie reminds him of the enthusiasm. Carrie’s youth and beauty have awakened his desire, a lust. As all the men in the world will do, he makes some empty promises. He is somewhat evil, as the only aim is for the final pleasure. And what distinguishes Carrie from other girls is that she is not only young and beautiful, but she is also pure, innocent, kind, weak and to some degree having her own objection which raises her value.
Adding to Carrie’s charm is her vivid and touching performance, which is kindled by Drouet’s blind encouragement. Carrie possesses the sympathetic, impressionable nature which, ever in the most developed form, has been the glory of the drama. She is created with that passivity of soul which is always the mirror of the active world. She possesses an innate taste for imitation. She has a touch of vanity and feels that she will do things if she only has a chance. How often has she looked at the well-dressed actresses on the stage and wonders how she will look, how delightful she will feel if only she were in their places. Carrie’s life turning point is around the corner, a suitable ability and a great chance can make her a new way out in Chicago.
The story reveals Hurstwood’ strong discontentment with his wife as it goes on. Our self-love dictates our appreciation of the good or evil in another. He sees her wrinkle; perhaps, she is fading, while he is still preening himself in his elegance and youth. He is still an interested factor in the merry-makings of the world, but she doesn’t pursue the thought. The unhappy family is also a driving force for the love affair. But no secret can be kept forever. Mrs. Hurstwood seems to get informed of her husband’s suspicious behaviors. Based on jealousy, wrath, she triggers a fierce quarrel with him. She is well-grounded as many properties are under her name. She consults the lawyers and hires the detective to search the evidence in her favor. She has an edge in this battle. The managerial position counts a lot to Hursrwood. Any bad news associate with him can destroy his career and his social cirlcle. Losing the usual assurance, Mr. Hurstwood feels his power of dictation in the house seems to be taken. He is somewhat afraid of Mrs. Hurstwood for the properties problems. Hurstwood seems to be doom to pay for his merry-making deeds. He is too proud to lose any game, sparing efforts to figure the things out.
For the part of Carrie, she is in a more struggling situation. Hurstwood’s marriage slaps her face. She is deceived, as from the highest position of happiness jumps into the hell of anguish. She is not easy at that moment. Drouet still keeps a conscious sense at that moment and is not ready to lose Carrie based on vanity and jealousy. He tries to convince Carrie that wrongness is caused by herself. For Carrie, both of them are the ones who can save her from the harshness of life. She suffers poverty severely in the past. She decides not to live again.
The dramatic moment leads the story to another climax. Hurstwood, drawn by the lure of money and oppressed by his wife, desire for Carrie, he takes the money away as a thief and deceives Carrie to New York. Hurstwood loves Carrie for her beauty. In the new circumstance, he firstly secretly makes the ends meet all by himself. Ashamed of and fears any possibility to get across with his old friends. The life is not so comfortable as in Chicago. However, with Carrie nearby, he satisfied and works hard. Carrie, still an innocent girl, is fascinated at the new atmosphere and is happy to settle down and be familiar with the household things. The first year passed in peace.
As the payment increase, Hurstwood collects the old habits. He begins to enjoy the out world in the new place. From the first time not to dine with the lonely Carrie, he takes this for granted little by little. Love is not fresh as it begins. Carrie is sure she is not love Hurstwood, as no jealousy is aroused inside triggered by Hurstwood’s ignore. She tries to lead a life she satisfies. As the time goes on, either Hurstwood is stronger, healthier, wiser, as the youth approaching manhood, or he is growing weaker, older, less incisive mentally, as the man approaching old age. Hurstwood feels the wrinkles of the aging, while Carrie learns that man will change and fail. Flatter in its most palpable form has lost its force with her. Is requires superiority-kindly superiority- to move her- the superiority of a genius like Ames.
The third important man
Carrie comes across the third important man, Ames in her life. At this moment, Carrie realizes that the metropolis is a cold place and little money brings her nothing. She feels that there is no warm, sympathy and friendship back of the easy merriment with many approaches her. All seemed to be seeking their own assessment, regardless of the possible sad consequence to others, so much for the lessons from Hurstwood and Drouet. She is perplexed and anxious about this reality, hollow inside. It’s Ames who is smarter than Hurstwood and more candid than Drouet, with broad horizon. He conveys to Carrie the personal understanding of the life and the society, whose appearance impacts Carrie’s mind and shocks her inner feeling. He knows Carrie well, different from the men around her. Do as a good advisor, he help Carrie make her ideas and thoughts clear, being aware of the insufficient and the future direction. Aspired by his cultivation, Carrie tries to read in large amount and arms herself with the knowledge to get a better future. Ames contributes a lot in her performance. Carrie finally takes hold of some essence of the arts. The world is always struggling to express itself. Most people are not capable of voicing their feelings. They depend upon others. That is what genius is for. One man expresses their desires for them in music; another one in poetry; another one in a play. Sometimes nature does it in a face- it makes the face representative of all desire. With constantly learning, Carrie makes progresses and the artist career is raised to higher levels.
Distinctive from Carrie, Hurstwood, after all his money is spent and Carrie leaves, begins to find, in his wretched clothing and meager state of body, that people takes him for a chronic type of bum and beggar. Police hustles him along, restaurant and lodging-house keepers turn him out promptly the moment he has his due; pedestrians waves him off. Hopelessly he turns back into the Broadway again, begging, crying, losing track of his thoughts, one after another, as a mind decays.
5. Comment
Throughout the struggle in Chicago and New York, Carrie just goes through the painful transition from a worm to a butterfly. She touches the harshness in life, confused over and learns from the human nature. In the crowded metropolis, people are just like the millions of ants, totally a picture of black looking down from a high position. Carrie survives in the material life with the additional help from the men coming across her life and innate gift.
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