ABSTRACT

Theodore Dreiser is known as the literary spirit of the twentieth century America. He has written a lot of influential novels during his lifetime, among which Sister Carrie is his first novel and An American Tragedy is his masterpiece. Both novels are true portrayals of the ubiquitous tragedy existing in today’s American society. They reveal that the degradation and even crime of such young people like Carrie and Clyde, the protagonists in Sister Carrie and An American Tragedy in a capitalist society like USA, cannot be simply ascribed to their characters. It is the class difference caused by the private ownership that restricted the space of their healthy development. It is the selfish and vain lifestyle that eroded their original purity of heart and moral values. It is the abnormal social system that twisted their mentality and stifled their hope. Their tragedies are inevitable. Dreiser's works have helped many Americans realize the gap between the American Dream and the reality and encourage people to struggle against the unfairness in society. Therefore Dreiser’s works have powerful artistic vitality and profound realistic significance.

Key words: An American Tragedy; Sister Carrie; Theodore Dreiser

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One INTRODUCTION-1

1.1-Research Background-1

1.2 Significance of the study-1

1.3 Structure of the thesis-2

Chapter Two LITERATURE REVIEW-3

2.1 Introduction to Theodore Dreiser-3

2.2-Introduction to Sister Carrie and An American Tragedy-4

2.3 Studies of Sister Carrie and An American Tragedy-5

Chapter Three COMPARISON BETWEEN CLYDE AND CARRIE-7

3.1 Strong Desire for Money-7

3.2 View of Love and Marriage-10

3.3 Extreme Individualism-11

Chapter Four DREISER’S PURPOSE OF CREATING CLYDE AND CARRIE-13

4.1 Dreiser’s Criticism of the Capitalist System-13

4.2 Dreiser’s Reflections on Humanism-15

Chapter Five CONCLUSION-18

Works Cited-20