Abstract

Sister Carrie is the representative work of Theodore Dreiser. It has profound historic and realistic meanings and also takes up an important position in the American literature. It is a great fiction which sharply breaks away from the traditional writing style at the beginning of the 20th      century so that Sister Carrie becomes a milestone in American literature. This essay aims to analyze Carrie’s main character and the causes leading to her complicated character. Carrie is simple and naive, but longs for upper society. She worships money, has vanity and is cold to others. The causes leading to Carrie’s complicated character include both external causes and internal causes. External causes include social reality, influence of Drouet and Hurstwood, and her family. Internal causes include her understanding of life, her desire for better life, and her growing independent conscious. 

Keywords: Sister Carrie; Character; Causes

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction-1

2. Literature Review-2

3. The Character of Carrie-4

3.1 Simplicity and naiveness-4

3.2 Ambitiousness-5

3.3 Money worship and vanity-5

3.4 Selfishness and coldness-6

4.The Causes of Carrie’s Character-7

4.1External causes-7

4.2 Internal causes-10

5. Conclusion-12

Works Cited-14