But then the book switches to where she finds herself introduced to George Hurstwood, a friend of Drouet. Hurstwood is a wealthy man with “connections” who is unhappily married, and he manages to fall in love with Carrie.
It is no coincidence that Carrie manages to get by in life much on her looks, for it is her physical beauty, coupled with Hurstwood’s personal connections, that eventually lands her a minor role in a play. Dreiser gives us the sense that she’s a mediocrity, and her motivation to move upward is only due to shallow ambition. Carrie likes the stage because she wants to be noticed. She likes the thought of people reading her name in newspapers. Yet she is only able to secure minor roles, and is still ultimately unsatisfied. Luck, it seems, will only take her so far.
After she and Hurstwood marry, they live a middle class lifestyle until his business suffers and he loses his wealth. Yet it’s not just something that happens right away, but we see it through Carrie’s perspective. The only thing she can find worrisome is that Hurstwood insists on wearing “poor” clothes around the house. She’s embarrassed by the thought of anyone seeing him dressed in such ugly garb.
Meanwhile, she is building connections in the theatre, and managing, by the help of a friend, to demand more money, which she ultimately gets. She and Hurstwood can barely pay their rent, but Carrie is insistent upon buying new clothes for herself, so she can be like all the other rich women who pass her on the streets. One of the insightful moments is when Carrie goes out and is able to land a theatre role, yet Hurstwood is unable to find a job himself. She rationalizes her belief that Hurstwood is just lazy, while overlooking the fact that she is young and attractive, and if it weren’t for that, she’d easily be in his position — unlucky and struggling.
With today’s failing economy, Dreiser could not have been more prophetic. Here we have a society of people who live beyond their means, use material possessions to define themselves, and Carrie ultimately is nothing more than a mere user. Her sense of entitlement is particularly aggravating, but it is this kind of quality that makes the story and characters so compelling and realistic.
Article comments
1 - Phillip
I think you've read the best of Dreiser. After Sister Carrie, I tried An American Tragedy. Whereas Carrie was artfully done, Tragedy is incredibly repetitive and lumbering.
Although I read it years ago, I still remember the scenes where Carrie goes looking for work. I cared about her plight. Dreiser was non-judgemental - Carrie did what she had to do.
I also liked how Dreiser was concerned with money. You don't find that a primary concern of many writers today - maybe because only those from affluent families can afford to get an MFA (rather than something practical, like a degree in business or accounting).
2 - Jschneider
I am planning on reading "The Financier" and I did order "An American Tragedy"--so I am interested to see how they are. Yes, the MFA thing can be a problem on multiple levels, but the biggest being the writing all sounds the same.
3 - Phillip
I was at the library, browsing their DVDs, and came across something called "Carrie." Yes, there's a movie version of Sister Carrie (I didn't know). I checked it out because 1) it starred Laurence Olivier and Jennifer Jones 2) it was directed by William Wyler and 3) the screenplay was by Ruth and Augustus Goetz. The latter 3 individuals were responsible for what I consider a masterpiece: "The Heiress." The Goetz's made the James' novel (Washington Square) more complex, more ambiguous. Of course, the director and the actors did their jobs to perfection.
I finished "Carrie" last night, and I think you (anybody) should see it. The story is Carrie's at first, then it becomes Hurstwood's. I felt that the ending of Sister Carrie was weak. I know, now, what was missing. What was missing is very hard to take - the film is almost brutally depressing. That's why, I suppose, it was a box office flop.
But it's a truthful and intelligent film. To me, those are redeeming elements.
And Olivier? - he's brilliant.
4 - Jschneider
That's good to know that a film was made--I was wondering. Though with a title like "Carrie" when you search for it, all that is likely to come up is Sissy in pig's blood.
I'll have to check it out sometime, it sounds interesting. Though I wish my tiny library carried it, though it doesn't even carry the Dreiser novel but has every Danielle Steel trash book ever published. Sad, huh?