西奥多德莱塞

（Aug.27,1871-Dec.28,1945）Lecturer:TangRanProducer:WanWenfangBorninIndiana,in1871toaGerman-speakingfamily.Thetenthoftensurvivingchildreninthefamily(threeothersdiedasinfants)AttendedIndianaUniversity(1889-1890)withthehelpfromateacher.Involvedinseveralcampaignsagainstsocialinjustice.Hewasleft–orientedandbecameamemberofCPin1945.Diedin1945inHollywoodCalifornia.WorksbyTheodoreDreiserNovelsSisterCarrie,JennieGerhardt,TheFinancier,TheTitan,TheGenius,AnAmericanTragedy,TheBulwark,TheStoicShortstorycollectionsFreeandOtherStories,TwelveMen,Chains:LesserNovelsandStories,AGalleryofWomenPlayPlaysoftheNaturalandSupernatural,TheHandofthePotterCollectionsofpoemsMoodsAutobiographyATraveleratForty,AHoosierHoliday,ABookAboutMyself(NewspaperDays),Dawn,AnAmateurLaborerCollectionsofessaysHeyRub-a-Dub-Dub:AbookoftheMysteryandWonderandTerrorofLife,TheColorofaGreatCity,DreiserLooksatRussia,TragicAmerica,AmericaIsWorthSaving,NotesonLifeSisterCarrie(1900),oneearliestnovelbyTheodoreDreiseraboutayoungcountrygirlwhomovestothebigcitywhereshestartsrealizingherownAmericanDreambyfirstbecomingamistresstomenthatsheperceivesassuperiorandlaterasafamousactress,Ithasbeencalledthe“greatestofallAmericanurbannovels.”CharactersCarolineMeebera.k.aCarrie,ayoungwomanfromruralWisconsin;theprotagonistMinnieHansonCarrie’sdoureldersisterwholivesincChicagoandputsheruponarrivalSvenHansonMinnie’shusband,ofSwedishextractionandtaciturntemperamentGeorgeW.Hurstwoodawell-to-do,sophisticatedmanwhomanagesFitzgeraldandMoy’sresortJuliaHurstwoodGeorge’sstrong-willed,social-climbingwifeJessicaHurstwoodGeorgeandJulia’sdaughter,whoshareshermother’saspirationstosocialstatusGeorgeHurstwoodJr.GeorgeandJulia’ssonTheVancesAwealthymerchantandhiswife,wholiveinthesamebuildingasHurstwoodandCarrieinNewYorkCityRobertAmesMrs.Vance’scousinfromIndiana,ahandsomeyoungscholarwhomCarrieregardsasamaleidealLolaOsborneachorusgirlCarriemeetsduringatheatreproductioninNewYork,whoencourgeCarrietobecomeherroommateLivedtogether,mistressMistress:elopingRelationsPlotsummaryDissatisfiedwithlifeinherruralWisconsinhome,18-year-oldCaroline”SisterCarrie”MeebertakesthetraintoChicago.Onthetrain,CarriemeetsCharlesDrouet,atravelingsalesman.Afteronlyafewyears,CarrieturnstoNewYork’stheatresforemploymentandbecomesachorusgirl.Onceagain,heraptitudefortheatreservesherwell,and,astherapidlyagingHurstwooddeclinesintoobscurity,Carriebeginstorisefromchorusgirltosmallspeakingroles.Carrieachievesstardom,butfindsthatmoneyandfamedonotsatisfyherlongingsorbringherhappinessandthatnothingwill.AnAmericanTragedyInspirationThebookwasbasedonanotoriouscriminalcase.OnJuly11,1906,thechartererfoundanoverturnedboatandbodyof20-year-oldraceBrownatBigMooseLakeinupstateNewYork.ChesterGillettewasputontrialandconvictedofkillingBrown,thoughheclaimedthatherdeathwasanaccident.Gillettewasexecutedbyelectricchairin1908.TheambitiousbutimmatureClydeGriffiths,raisedbypooranddevoutlyreligiousparentswhoforcehimtoparticipateintheirstreetmissionarywork,isanxioustoachievebetterthings.Followingasensationaltrialbeforeanunsympatheticaudience,anddespiteavigorousdefensemountedbytwolawyershiredbyhisuncle,Clydeisconvicted,sentencedtodeath,andexecuted.ThejailhousescenesandthecorrespondencebetweenClydeandhismotherstandoutasexemplarsofpathosinmodernliteratureOneoftheverygreatestnovelsofthiscenturyItcanbeseenpartlyasanattackonatraditionofself-conscious,self-satisfiedmoralismthatwasmeanttodefinecoreAmericanmainstreamvaluesduringthe1920s.Thestorywassointriguingthatkeepsthereaderturningpagestoseewhathappensnext.Dreiserisstronginplottingandcharacterdevelopment.Dreiser’sWritingFeatures--Themes1.NaturalismandDarwinismHeregardsmanasmerelyananimaldrivenbygreedandlustinastruggleexistenceinwhichonlythe“fittest”,themostruthlesssurvive2.AmericanDreamTheconceptwildlyheldintheUSAthatthroughhardwork,courage,anddeterminationonecanprosperity.3.Exposingpolarizationbetweenrichandpoorandimmorality.4.Americasocialdarkness,corrodedandinfectedbyAmericanlifestyle(moneytalks)inthatperiod.