He and Carrie settle down to a routine existence in New York, never going out or meeting anyone. Because the flat is so small, Carrie is unable to invite Drouet to visit. Through the influence of Mrs. Vance and her cousin Bob Ames, Carrie begins to feel dissatisfied with being an ordinary housewife. Eventually Drouet discovers that Carrie and Hurstwood have been seeing a great deal of each other and he moves out of the flat in order to frighten her. It is clear that she will never gain the happiness she dreams of. This flouted prevailing norms, that a character who practiced such sinful behavior must be punished in the course of the plot in order to be taught a lesson. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1917. In New York, Hurstwood and Carrie rent a flat where they live as George and Carrie Wheeler. One night when he stays late in his office to finish some paperwork, Hurstwood discovers that the safe has been left unlocked with over ten thousand dollars in it. The Florentine Opera Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, produced the world premiere of Robert Aldridge and Herschel Garfein's operatic adaptation of the book in October 2016. Reduced to standing in line for bread and charity, he commits suicide in a flophouse. One night, Drouet casually agrees to find an actress to play a key role in an amateur theatrical presentation of Augustin Daly's melodrama Under the Gaslight for his local chapter of the Elks. The couple grow distant, however, as Hurstwood abandons any pretense of fine manners toward Carrie, and she realizes that Hurstwood no longer is the suave, powerful manager of his Chicago days. [12], However, Alfred Kazin—while criticizing Dreiser's style—pointed out that Dreiser's novels had survived and remained influential works. Carrie is met at the station by her sister Minnie Hanson. Dreiser based his first novel on the lifetime of his sister Emma. Detroit: St. James Press, 1994. Literature Resources from Gale. Historical Commentary. from your Reading List will also remove any Dreiser fought against censorship of Sister Carrie, brought about because Carrie engaged in affairs and other "illicit sexual relationships" without suffering any consequences. Ed. Sister Carrie (1900) is a novel by Theodore Dreiser about a young country girl who moves to the big city where she starts realizing her own American Dream, first as a mistress to men that she perceives as superior, and later becoming a famous actress. 3rd ed. 8. Doubleday published the novel in 1900. "[15] The novel has also been praised for its accurate depiction of the protests in New York and the city life in Chicago. As Hurstwood lounges about, overwhelmed by apathy and foolishly gambling away most of his savings, Carrie turns to New York's theaters for employment and becomes a chorus girl. In a moment of poor judgment, he succumbs to the temptation to embezzle a large sum of money. After only a few years, the saloon's landlord sells the property and Hurstwood's business partner expresses his intent to terminate the partnership. It has been called the "greatest of all American urban novels".[2]. Literature Resources from Gale. In August, 1889, Caroline Meeber boards the train at her family home in Columbia City and travels to Chicago. One day, after an illness that costs her her job, she encounters Drouet on a downtown street. The musical Sister Carrie (Māsa Kerija) by Raimonds Pauls (music) and Jānis Peters [lv] (lyrics) first performed in Riga State Operetta Theatre in 1978 with Mirdza Zīvere as Carrie.[20]. Their identities are constantly subject to change, reflecting the modern American experience that had been ushered in by the developing capitalist economy. Hurstwood ultimately joins the homeless of New York, taking odd jobs, falling ill with pneumonia, and finally becoming a beggar. Salzman, Jack. Shy at first, she is warmed and made confident by Drouet's easy manner and flashy clothes. Sister Carrie, published in 1900, stands at the gateway of the new century. Reference Guide to American Literature. Carrie is met at the station by her sister Minnie Hanson. The next day, the affair is uncovered: Drouet discovers he has been cuckolded, Carrie learns that Hurstwood is married, and Hurstwood's wife Julia learns from acquaintances that Hurstwood has been out driving with another woman and deliberately excluded her from the Elks theatre night. [15], Reviews mentioned the novel's realistic depiction of the human condition. 1981. Lydon, Michael. In 1883 she ran away to Toronto, Canada with a husband who had stolen money from his employer. "Theodore Dreiser." The Pennsylvania edition. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. She eventually finds a part as a chorus girl in a Broadway opera. [5] Dreiser insisted on publication and 1,008 copies were printed on November 8, 1900. She acquires a sophisticated wardrobe and, through his offhand comments about attractive women, sheds her provincial mannerisms, even as she struggles with the moral implications of being a kept woman. Sister Carrie captures the excitement of that experience. Inventing a false pretext of Drouet's sudden illness, he lures Carrie onto a train and escapes with her to Canada. Sister Carrie was a movement away from the emphasis on morals of the Victorian era and focused more on realism and the base instincts of humans. In 1998, the Modern Library ranked Sister Carrie 33rd on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. They exchange contact information, but upon discovering the "steady round of toil" and somber atmosphere at her sister's flat, she writes to Drouet and discourages him from calling on her there. One evening the young couple are visited by George Hurstwood, a friend of Drouet's, the manager of a "way up, truly swell saloon." Hurstwood buys a minority interest in a saloon and, at first, is able to provide Carrie with a satisfactory – if not lavish – standard of living. His ill-fated venture, which lasts only two days, prompts Carrie to leave him; in her farewell note, she encloses twenty dollars. Summary Summary Summary Sister Carrie tells the story of two characters: Carrie Meeber, an ordinary girl who rises from a low-paid wage earner to a high-paid actress, and George Hurstwood, a member of the upper middle class who falls from his comfortable lifestyle to a life on the streets. Removing #book# [6] However, Frank Norris, who was working as a reader at Doubleday, sent a few copies to literary reviewers. [14] Despite this, critics did praise the book, and a large number of them seemed most affected by the character of Hurstwood, such as the critic writing for the New Haven Journal Courier, who proclaimed, "One of the most affecting passages is where Hurstwood falls, ruined, disgraced. Rpt. Her fortunes rise steadily after that. Literature Resources from Gale. Late 1889. Upon returning home to Carrie, he encourages her to take the part of the heroine. Web. In a few years Carrie gains fame and fortune as a stage comedienne. About Sister Carrie. At the urging of his journalist friend Arthur Henry, Dreiser began writing his manuscript in 1899. After a while he gives up searching and simply settles back to watch his meager savings dwindle. It is thought that Carrie will pay for her room and board in … While it initially did not sell well (fewer than 500 copies) and encountered censorship, it is now considered one of the great American urban novels, which explores the gritty details of human nature, as well as how the process of industrialization affected the American people.[11]. He rushes to Carrie's flat, tells her that Drouet has been injured and wishes to see her and whisks her away with him on a train to Canada. The couple continue on to New York, where they find a comfortable apartment. His plotlines were also decried as unimaginative, critics citing his lack of education and claiming that he lacked intellectualism. April 12, 2011. Filled with fears, tears, and regrets, she is nonetheless determined to make her way in the big city. The couple plan to have Carrie live with them while she works in the city. The two are struck by an instantaneous fascination for each other and meet together frequently whenever the salesman is out of town. [10], Theodore Dreiser is considered one of America's greatest naturalists, significant because he wrote at the early stages of the naturalist movement. Visit BN.com to buy new and used textbooks, and check out our award-winning NOOK tablets and eReaders. Rozga, Margaret. From the outset, his title was Sister Carrie, though he changed it to The Flesh and the Spirit while writing it; he restored the original name once complete. It is thought that Carrie will pay for her room and board in order to help the Hansons reduce expenses. One day as she wanders about downtown looking for a new job, she meets Drouet on the street. Drouet installs her in a much larger apartment, and their relationship intensifies as Minnie dreams about her sister's fall from innocence. Rovit, Earl. The novel dwells on the moment as it is experienced; the characters are plunged into the narrative without the reader being told much, if any, of their histories. At the time of Hurstwood's suicide, Carrie has gained all that she had originally hoped for: wealth, finery, and prestige. He seems to her the epitome of wealth and influence. "Overview of 'Sister Carrie'." © 2020 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. [16] This toleration of immorality was an entirely new idea for the readers of Dreiser's era. 503–541. [13] There is also the receipt of sale which Doubleday sent to Dreiser showing that Sister Carrie was not withdrawn from the shelves, reporting that 456 copies of the 1,008 copies printed were sold. [13], Sister Carrie evoked different responses from the critics, and although the book did not sell well among the general public, it often received positive reviews. "The Critical Recognition of Sister Carrie 1900–1907.". Carrie strikes up a friendship with her neighbor, Mrs. Vance, a young lady of fine manners and expensive taste. Henningfeld, Diane Andrews. Midwestern Miscellany 22 (1994): 18–29. [11] Mencken believed that Dreiser's raw, honest portrayal of Carrie's life should be seen as a courageous attempt to give the reader a realistic view of the life of women in the nineteenth century. SparkNotes is brought to you by Barnes & Noble. Without Carrie's knowledge, Drouet enlists her talents as an actress in an amateur performance.

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