Sister Carrie (Title, Plot, Character of Sr.

Carrie, City of novels, American Dream)

“The greatest of all urban novels”, Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser was published in the
year1900.It received much acclaim for its portrayal of American Naturalism and bringing out
the futility of American Dream. The novel narrates the character of Caroline Meeber,
popularly know as Sister Carrie’s journey to achieve her Dream which can well be defined as
her American dream. In 1889, with the dreams and desire of living a better life, Caroline
Meeber leaves Wisconsin, Colombia City and travels to Chicago, to live with her elder sister
Minnie and her abusive husband, Sven Hanson. During her train journey Carrie meets a
salesman named Charles Drouet who is instantly smitten by Carrie. They exchange their
contacts and decide to meet in Chicago. But on reaching her sister’s matchbox apartment, her
dreams of making big temporarily evaporates. Disappointedly she writes to Drouet and
discourages him for keeping in touch with her. To support herself she finds a dreary job to
run a machine in a shoe factory. The meagre salary that she earns is used up to take care of
her lodge and food at her sister’s place. A sudden bout of illness takes her job away from her
and fills her with eternal despair. That day itself she co-incidentally meets Drouet around the
corner who tries to persuade her to move in wit him. As an attempt to impress, Drouet gives
Carrie two 10 dollar bills. The next day Carrie’s feeble attempt to return the money is met
with shopping at a well-known departmental store from where Drouet buys her a jacket and
some pair of shoes. Thet night Carrie moves in with Drouet. As promised Drouet puta her up
in a lavish apartment and elevates her materialistic pleasure with sudden luxury. Slowly she
adapts the life of a socialite and is introduced to the circle of elites in the bar of ‘Fitzgerald
and Moy’, a local hangout for elites. The manager of the bar is an influential man named
George Hurstwood. The upper class club culture mesmerizes Carrie and she finds comfort in
the bleak showoff.
The manager George Hurstwood is married to Mrs. Jane Hurstwood, an influential socialite
who is politically connected. The Hurstwoods are parents to a twenty years old son and a 17
years old daughter. Yet he feels allured by Carrie and soon starts an illicit affair with her.
Carrie’s desire to climb the social ladder further, provokes her to fascinate Hurstwood by
secretly meeting him during Drouet’s absence. Drouet inadvertently works hard with his
contacts to fetch a role for Carrie in a theatrical performance. Though shaky initially, Carrie
performs fantastically winning over the audience with her acting prowess.
The applauded performance insights Hurtwood’s further passion and he decides to win Carrie
over Drouet. But unfortunately, by the next day Drouet learns about their secret affair and
walks away from her revealing Hurstwood’s marital status and his wife’s influence. Carrie
being afraid of losing Drouet’s social connection sends her rejection to Hurstwood. At the
same time Jane, Hurstwood’s wife also learn about his little trysts and decides to divorce him.
Jane’s demand and Carrie’s rejection makes Hurstwood adamant. With brazened courage and
indomitable will, he steals 10 thousand dollars from the safe of ‘Fitzgerald and Moy’. He
calls Carrie and persuades her to meet him on the pretext of Drouet’s illness. On meeting her
he reveals his possession of 10 thousand dollars and allures Carrie of a better life in New
York away from Drouet and Mrs. Hurstwood. Both of them leave for Canada. But
unfortunately, in Montreal, Hurstwood is prosecuted by an investigator who accuses him of
the money heist. Hurstwood is forced to return all his money to avoid criminal charges. To
mollify Carrie, Hurstwood arranges a marriage ceremony and together they leave for New
York city to start a new life as Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler. Carrie, being so engrossed to achieve
materialistic satisfaction, agrees to everything that Hurstwood offers. In New York city they
start living a not-so-extravagant life which slowly distances them. Carrie becomes frustrated
with her life as her purpose of choosing Hurstwood over Drouet to enhance her socialite
status really backfires. The connection with her neighbour Mrs. Vance and her cousin, Robert
Ames once again instills in him the passion to pursue her American dream. Hurstwood tries
his level best to win over Carrie again but his economic downfall further takes him away
from her. Carrie gets a job in a theatre company and excels achieving fame and social status.
With Carrie’s success came the fall of Hurstwood who drowns in poverty and indecisiveness.
He falls ill and finally succumbs to self-annihilation.
At the end of the novel, Carrie realizes that all her materialistic bliss has made her all alone
and the American Dream is nothing but a Mirage that ends in sheer nothingness.

GENDER IN SISTER CARRIE (Conclusion)

‘Sister Carrie’ ignores all the gender biasness and conventionality prevalent in 19 th century
America, in its initial part. Complying to the Theories of Feminist Criticism it solely focuses
on the woman as the protagonist whose prosperity is the main topic of the novel.
According to 19th century societal norms, it was a mandate for a woman who crosses the line
of decency to repent and suffer the consequences. Therefore Carrie’s embarkment in the
social strata brings her ultimate downfall and thus in the end ‘Sister Carrie’ follows the age-
old convention of belittling a woman’s achievement.