嘉莉妹妹和美国梦Sister Carrie and American Dream
《嘉莉妹妹》中美国梦论文
浅谈《嘉莉妹妹》中的美国梦摘要：在德莱塞的小说《嘉莉妹妹》中，“美国梦”这个主题贯穿故事的始终：嘉莉的性格和命运，都是当时充斥于社会中的美国梦造成的。
本文通过阐述主人公对“美国梦”的追求以及现实和梦想的破灭，暗示了“美国梦”的虚幻性和幻想破灭的必然性。
关键词：《嘉莉妹妹》美国梦性格现实命运中图分类号：i106.4 文献标识码：a一美国梦的起源与发展美国梦（american dream），是美国人引以为豪的一种信念，是指在美国，无论出身、年龄、性别、种族，只要具有坚韧不拔的毅力、勤劳肯干的精神和过人的聪明才智，任何人都可能取得成功，过上舒适的生活，使自己的梦想变为现实。
这种成功，仅仅依赖于个体的勤奋，而非依赖于他人和社会的援助。
拥有美国梦的美国人认为，只要自身的努力，就可以改变自己的社会地位，就可能从一名不文的穷人变为百万富翁，从默默无闻的小人物走进白宫。
美国梦起源于17世纪，英格兰移民怀揣自由与财富的梦想乘坐“五月花号”来到荒无人烟的美洲大陆，其中很多人是清教徒，他们主张宗教自由和民主平等，宣扬梦想靠自身的努力即可实现的观点，因此，当时的美国梦的确催人奋进，起到了积极的作用。
当历史的时针走到18世纪末期，加州大量金矿的发现激起了狂热的淘金潮，人们对金钱的贪欲达到了顶峰，并且一夜暴富成为了梦想的核心。
这就成为了美国梦开始扭曲的转折点。
《嘉莉妹妹》正是在这种时代背景下应运而生的。
二《嘉莉妹妹》美国梦的时代背景《嘉莉妹妹》是美国著名的自然主义时代社会小说家西奥多·德莱塞（1871-1945）的第一部长篇小说。
在当时德莱塞生活的时代，美国正处于由农村向城市的转型历史阶段。
此时，人们追求“美国梦”达到了白热化阶段。
但是此时的美国梦已经不再具有最初的诚实劳动改变所处环境实现梦想的积极的现实意义，人们只关注自经济地位和自身利益，而无视自己的行为是否符合传统道德观。
康涅狄格州立大学历史学教授马修·渥肖尔曾评论道：“美国梦就是对财富的无限渴求和追逐”。
由《嘉莉妹妹》引起的对美国梦的思考
本科生毕业论文题目：由《嘉莉妹妹》引起的对美国梦的思考年级：2010级专业：英语学号： 20100002120姓名：周毛花指导教师：姚欲昕2014年5月7日An ANALYSIS OF THE AMERICAN DREAM FROM SISTER CARRIE ________________________________________A Bachelor’s ThesisPresented toThe Department of Foreign LanguagesModern College of Northwest UniversityXi’an, China_________________________________________In Partial FulfillmentOf the Requirements for theBachelor of Arts Degree_________________________________________ByZhou Maohua诚信声明本人郑重声明：本人所呈交的毕业论文（设计）是在导师的指导下独立进行研究所取得的成果。
毕业论文（设计）中凡引用他人已经发表或未发表的成果、数据、观点等，均已明确注明出处。
除文中已经注明引用的内容外，不包含任何其他个人或集体已经发表或在网上发表的论文。
特此声明。
论文作者签名：日期：2014年5月7日ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSI would like to express my gratitude to all those who helped me during the writing of this thesis. A special acknowledgement should be shown to Miss Hua and professor Yao from whose lectures I benefited greatly. I am particularly indebted to Miss Hua and Professor Yao who gave me kind encouragement and useful instructions all through my writing. Finally I wish to extend my thanks to the library assistants who supplied me with reference materials of great value.ABSTRACTAmerican dream refers to equality, freedom, and democracy. At the same time, it is a life ambition that as long as we work hard,we can get a better life and a success in America. American dream has been debated for a long time. Some people say it focuses on personality and money, especially personal struggle and success while other people hold the view that American dream is a civilized mode of individual equality and freedom.This article discusses the symbolic meaning of American dream. Firstly, it begins with the personality of Carrie from Carrie, and compare the characteristics of American dream with Chinese dream. The positive role of American dream has been discussed in this paper as well. Both of American dream and Chinese dream are beliefs that encouraging people trying their best for dreams. American dream emphasizing on the individual interests, while Chinese dream stressing on collectivism. This article deals with the similarity and enlightenment of these two dreams.Keywords: American dream; Chinese dream; Individualism; Collectivism; Symbolism摘要所谓美国梦，广义上指美国的平等，自由，民主。
超越自然主义——再论《嘉莉妹妹》与美国梦
名作欣赏 / 性别世界 >超越自然主义——再论《嘉莉妹妹》与美国梦⊙姚晴晴［北京外国语大学英语学院， 北京 100089］摘 要：《嘉莉妹妹》是西奥多·德莱赛的代表作之一，也被认为是自然主义文学的代表作品之一。
嘉莉到大城市打拼，追求自己的美国梦，却如风中柳絮，无法把控自己的命运。
嘉莉妹妹的美国梦通常被认为是失败的。
本文指出，《嘉莉妹妹》并不符合法国小说家爱弥尔·左拉对自然主义小说的定义，同时嘉莉能够积极把控自己的命运，她的美国梦是超越了物质迈向更高精神追求的成功之梦。
关键词：《嘉莉妹妹》 西奥多·德莱赛 自然主义 美国梦一、超越自然主义《嘉莉妹妹》是西奥多·德莱赛的代表作之一，也被认为是自然主义文学的代表作之一，但《嘉莉妹妹》并不符合爱弥尔·左拉对自然主义小说的定义。
左拉认为遗传和环境决定人的命运，而遗传与《嘉莉妹妹》中的三个主要人物，嘉莉、德鲁埃和赫斯特伍德却没有太大关系，小说没有强调家庭遗传因素对人物发展的影响。
此外，《嘉莉妹妹》中的环境描写也异于自然主义小说对环境的陈规描述。
故事发生的主要地点——芝加哥和纽约，并不是冰冷的城市，而是为主角的发展提供了众多机会：德鲁埃商机不断，嘉莉妹妹的演艺事业蒸蒸日上，赫斯特伍德在芝加哥如鱼得水，他最后的一败涂地更多源于其自身而非外部环境。
此外，自然主义的主导特质之一——“决定论”在《嘉莉妹妹》中的表现也不明显。
决定论是指“命运被非个人化的、无法理解、无力抗拒的力量操纵”（Barrish 116）。
决定论站在自由意志的反面，展现人们在冷漠环境中无法摆脱的命运。
《嘉莉妹妹》中的人物，德鲁埃和赫斯特伍德都拥有“自由意志”，狡猾地操纵他人的命运，放纵地追求享乐和自我欲望的满足。
此外，他们也并未为自己的所作所为付出沉重的代价。
德鲁埃在小说结尾以成功人士的身份出现，成为新的品牌代理。
赫斯特伍德的偷盗行为被低调处理，被盗者只要求其将偷盗的金额奉还。
《嘉莉妹妹》介绍
点评鉴赏
《嘉莉妹妹》问世早期，美国舆论对此书的评论可分为两大派。《先驱时 报》和《内务报》等将德莱塞视为美国的左拉，认为《嘉莉妹妹》是一部 伟大的美国小说。虽然这些评论也认为在嘉莉妹妹和赫斯特伍德身上缺乏 坚定的道德感，但它们总体上是肯定《嘉莉妹妹》的艺术地位的。在肯定 德莱塞的批评家中最突出和最早的是H．L．门肯。他指出，德莱塞并不是 弗兰克·诺里斯和左拉的追随者，因为他吸取了霍桑、欧文、赫伯特·斯 潘塞等对他有用的思想，将“深刻的惊奇感引入文学”。对《嘉莉妹妹》 持赞赏态度的还有二十年代和四十年代的查尔斯·鲍德温 （CharlesBaldwin）、伯顿·拉斯科（BurtonRascoe）以及F．O．马西森 （ Matthiessen ）等人。鲍德温认为德莱塞是美国最伟大最独特的小说家， 在精神上和写作水平上都超过了英国小说家。
Style and genre
At the urging of his journalist friend Arthur Henry, Dreiser began writing his manuscript in 1899. He frequently gave up on it but Henry urged him to continue. 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. Dreiser had difficulty finding a publisher for Sister Carrie. Doubleday & McClure Company accepted the manuscript for publication but it was withdrawn after the publisher's wife declared it too sordid. Dreiser insisted on publication and 1,008 copies were printed on November 8, 1900. The book was not advertised and only 456 copies sold.[6] However, Frank Norris, who was working as a reader at Doubleday, sent a few copies to literary reviewers.
嘉莉妹妹的美国梦_徐镱闻
人们普遍认为，美国梦分为广义的美国梦和狭义 的美国梦，所谓广义的美国梦，是在国家层面上，是指 “自由、平等、民主”的国家理念和追求；而狭义的美国 梦，是指在个人的层面上，每个人都能够通过自身的 努力和奋斗，最终获得富足成功幸福的人生。 只要肯 付出劳动和汗水，在美国这个“自由、平等、民主”的国 度，成就一番人生事业并不只是梦想。 早期的美国梦 来自于欧洲的清教徒思想，由于在欧洲，这些人受到 宗教的压迫， 不得不忍受来自社会各方面的压力，为 了建立一个理想中的宗教国度， 他们移民去了美国， 在一个新的环境中，往昔的身份背景和社会地位都化 为泡影，要想出人头地就必须通过自己勤劳的工作和 公平的竞争，让自己过上衣食无忧的富裕生活，以此 来实现自己的个人价值， 并体现个人带来的社会价 值。然而随着时代的变迁，在 19 世纪末 20 世纪初，美 国的资本主义迅速发展，大规模的工业化和城市化对 美国社会的各个方面产生了极大的冲击，美国梦逐渐 出现了一些不道德的因素，原先的在公平竞争的环境 中，通过个人勤奋努力，来达到精神的自由和物质上 的富裕，逐渐演变成对于金钱和物质的不择手段和无 限累积， 金钱和物质成为衡量一个人是否成功的标 尺，人们开始忽略过程而重视结果。
嘉莉妹妹的美国梦
安徽文学
ANHUIWENXUE 文 学 研 究
独立还是依附_从_嘉莉妹妹_看美国梦与现代美国女性意识的觉醒
第26卷第6期 唐山师范学院学报 2004年11月 Vol. 26 No.6 Journal of Tangshan Teachers College Nov. 2004────────── 收稿日期：2004-03-15作者简介：谢满兰（1977-），女，湖南耒阳人，广东教育学院外语系助教，英语语言文学硕士，主要研究英美文学。
- 15 - 独 立 还 是 依 附 ——从《嘉莉妹妹》看美国梦与现代美国女性意识的觉醒谢满兰（广东教育学院 外语系，广东 广州 510303）摘 要：嘉莉妹妹是美国自然主义作家德莱塞精心刻画的一个美国梦的追寻者形象。
小说中美国梦文化的精髓赋予了《嘉莉妹妹》恒久的魅力，而美国梦所催生的美国女性意识则是小说产生轰动效应的关键。
透过小说文本，可以解读嘉莉在独立与依附的矛盾斗争中所经历的曲折复杂的寻梦历程，并感触其时女性意识的艰难的觉醒。
关键词：《嘉莉妹妹》；美国梦；自然主义；女性意识中图分类号：I074 文献标识码：A 文章编号：1009-9115（2004）06-0015-04西奥多・德莱塞被公认为是美国文学史上一位享有崇高地位的自然主义作家。
在他的长篇小说中，问世已一百多年的《嘉莉妹妹》是最具争议的一部。
《嘉莉妹妹》一开始销路不好，但现在已被奉为美国自然主义运动的第一部代表性小说，备受关注。
小说以其独特的视角和写作手法勇敢地面对美国社会生活的现实，真实地再现了当时城市生活的变幻莫测和女主角的坦率，这对于美国20世纪文学的创新是至关重要的。
德莱塞用一部《嘉莉妹妹》充当了那些想要客观、现实地处理各种题材的作家们的领航手。
在众多的批评声和赞扬声中，这部小说焕发出了自己的光彩，而对小说的分析评价也引发了对小说的女主角嘉莉妹妹的不同的思考。
事实上，《嘉莉妹妹》能长久地焕发耀眼的光彩，既得益于嘉莉妹妹这一形象深深植根于美国文化传统即美国梦，又源于其中对美国女性意识的觉醒的大胆的描绘和承认。
从_嘉莉妹妹_解读扭曲的美国梦_廖喜凤
／2012.3下半月wai guo wen xue yan jiu外国文学研究从《嘉莉妹妹》解读扭曲的美国梦廖喜凤摘要：《嘉莉妹妹》揭示了“美国梦”在梦想内容方面扭曲为对金钱和物质享受的追求；梦想的实现方式也由勤奋、诚实的劳动扭曲为通过非道德的手段使“梦想”成为现实。
关键词：美国梦；物质；嘉利；欲望美国的历史可以说是一部美国人追求梦想的历史，渴望成功的梦想已经浸润到美国人的思维，并成为美国民族的心灵习性。
美国南北战争前后，原本充满了希望、积极进取和乐观精神的美国梦，开始扭曲和变形。
西奥多·德莱赛紧扣时代主题，他笔下的《嘉莉妹妹》充分反映了美国梦的迷茫与失落。
一、美国梦的内涵对美国梦内涵的理解可以分为广义和狭义两种。
从广义上讲，“美国梦”指的是一种国家信念，一种作为“民主、平等、自由”的国家理想及价值理念。
从狭义上讲，“美国梦”指的是任何人只要努力奋斗，锐意进取，就一定能在美国这个充满希望的国家发财致富，过上幸福生活的个人理想。
美国人深信：一个人只要努力，就一定出人头地，会实现自己的人生理想，获得成功。
“美国梦”实现的典型代表有本杰明·富南克林、林肯、里根；现任总统奥巴马更是现代“美国梦”的代表。
二、美国梦的扭曲———对物质享受的追求美国南北战争前后，美国开始了工业化，大量的农村人口涌入城市，希望凭借勤奋和努力获得成功，拥有财富和社会地位。
嘉莉出身贫民窟，在资本主义的物欲与享乐主义的影响下，一开始就把物质消费的满足当做幸福，当一个物质享受的欲望得到满足时又产生了新的欲望，处在不断的满足和失望的循环中，纵然成功也不感到幸福。
杜洛埃对芝加哥的描述点燃了嘉莉对物质的欲望。
但是，她刚到芝加哥，她的梦想就破碎了，姐姐拮据的生活使初来乍到的嘉莉感到沮丧。
虽然嘉莉是来芝加哥工作的，但她却躲避辛苦的工作，对物质的欲望驱使着嘉莉。
她想象着“那些遥远的大人物整日数钱，穿戴华丽，出入坐马车”。
当杜洛埃再次出现在她面前时，嘉莉向自己的欲望屈服，过上了能让自己不断漂亮风光的生活。
嘉莉妹妹和盖茨比的美国梦比较分析
嘉莉妹妹和盖茨比的“美国梦”比较分析陈亚兰摘要：“美国梦”是美国文学作品中一个贯穿始终的主题。
通过《嘉莉妹妹》和《了不起的盖茨比》的比较分析，表现了两部作品的共同主题——扭曲的“美国梦”。
关键词：嘉莉妹妹；盖茨比；美国梦“美国梦”是美国文学作品中反复出现的文化母题。
十八世纪后期以来，世世代代的美国人都深信一点：只要经过努力不懈的奋斗勤奋、勇气和决心便能获得更好的生活。
“美国梦”背后的真正动力是什么？一些历史学家认为，就是对财富的渴求和追逐。
康涅狄格州立大学历史学教授马修·沃肖尔指出：“对金钱的追求，是‘美国梦中不变的成分。
”德莱塞作品《嘉莉妹妹》中，嘉莉的美国梦是她对幸福和物质的渴望。
从表面上看，嘉莉妹妹是一个典型的美国梦追寻者，而且最终也实现了她的梦想。
工作、金钱和声誉让她看上去像个大赢家。
但她失去了弥足珍贵的爱情，变得像机器般冷漠。
《了不起的盖茨比》是菲茨杰拉德最优秀、最有影响力的作品之一，小说内容可以说是家喻户晓，这里不再赘述。
通过嘉莉妹妹和盖茨比经历的比较分析，可以看到人们心中希冀的美梦，已经变得扭曲。
首先，这两部作品的最终目的都是要超越个人梦想范畴，提出美国梦的主题。
两个故事的主角，嘉莉妹妹和盖茨比，都出身贫苦、来自社会底层，他们背井离乡，到大城市追寻美国梦。
嘉莉妹妹是来自美国农村底层的普通女性，她来到大城市追求自己的理想生活。
“美国梦”的原本内涵是指众人平等，每个人都可以通过努力工作获得成功，但我们却看到，嘉莉妹妹梦想实现的过程，“美国梦”也随之破灭。
盖茨比虽然通过努力工作实现了自己的财富梦想，但他是依靠从事走私酒等非法经营的手段，才从一贫如洗的年轻人一跃成为百万富翁的。
从表面上看，嘉莉妹妹和盖茨比的结局不同，但两书作者谈论的却是同一个主题：扭曲的美国梦。
两位作者表现主题的方式大不相同。
首先，嘉莉和盖茨比的梦想来源不同。
嘉莉的最终目标是过上舒适安逸的生活，在大城市中获得物质财富的成功。
《嘉莉妹妹》中的自然主义与“美国梦”
善恶 ，决 定人 的本 质属 性 。 《嘉莉 妹 妹 》这 部作 品 的 背景 是 主 旋律 ，那 就是 对 “美 同梦 ”的 执著 追 求 和沉 重 的 失落 感 。
自己的 辛 酸 融 入 了作 品 中 。
是迅 速 接 受花 花 世 界 的道 德 标准 而 堕 落 下去 。在这 样 的 环境
一 、 自然 主义 与 《嘉 莉妹 妹 》
里 ，要 保 持 中 间状 态 是 不 可能 的 ” ｌ４］（Ｐｌ ２）。
１９世纪 后 期 ， 资本 主 义 在美 国迅 速 发展 ，城 市化 现 象 尤
嘉莉 对 金 钱和 物 质 具有 强 烈 的欲 望 ，一 方面 是 缘 于她 的
为 明显 ，这 些 特 征在 文 学 作 品 中都 有 体现 。与 此 同 时 ，科 学 本性 。小时候她就梦想过童话里的宫殿和各种豪华气派的地 的发 展也 极 大 地影 响着 文 学 的发 展 ， 自然 主 义 就 是在 这 样 的 方 ，想 象在 那 些 雕刻 华 丽 的 门廊 的 里 边 ，人 们 是无 忧 无 虑 ，
充 分体 现 了 自然主 义 的消 极 论及 决定 论 。
生 活 就 不难 理 解 了。
德 莱塞 十 分注 重 环 境 的描 写 ，特 别 强调 客观 环 境 对 作 品
二 、 “美 国梦 ”
中人 物 性 格 命运 的决 定 作用 ，强 调环 境 决 定 人物 ，决 定人 性
纵 观２Ｏ世 纪 的美 国文 学 ，我们 可 以发 现一 个 经 久不 绝 的
嘉 莉 妹 妹 中 的 自然 主义 与 “ 美 国 梦 ，，
。 宋 晓 慧
摘 要 ： （（嘉莉妹妹 是美国 自然主义文学的代表作。本文主要 从 自然主义的角度分析环境对 嘉莉的影响 ，指 出 嘉莉的道德倾以及对 “美国梦”的追求主要是受 当时的社会环境 影响而形成的，最终揭示出该作 品在反映社会现实 方 面所表现 出的批判意义 关键词： （（嘉莉妹妹》 自然主 义 美国梦
AnalysisofSisterCarrie’scharacter嘉莉妹妹性格分析
AnalysisofSisterCarrie’scharacter嘉莉妹妹性格分析Analysis of Sister Carrie’s character“Sister Carrie” is the first novel of famous American novelist Theodore Dreiser in the 19th century. It is also a remarkable naturalist one of his works. Carrie is the major character of this book. The story took place in the United States in the late 19th century, when the emerging industrial and commercial city were rising. There was a large number of rural population pouring into the city. Carrie, an eighteen years old, smart and simple girl, in order to get rid of poverty, she took on a train to Chicago with only four dollars. However, the reality broke her dream. She became the mistress of the salesman. Then she met a hotel manager, Hurstwood, who was attracted to Carrie’s simplicity and beauty. Later he stole the money from the hotel, and deceived Carrie to make her elope with him to New York. In New York, Hurstwood lost the money, and he couldn’t find a job because of steal. Carrie had to find a job as an actress to earn their livings, then she became a famous actress and squeezed into the upper class. She abandoned Hurstwood and pushed him unconsciously to despair and death. Although she owned the fame, she felt very lonely.In my opinion, Carrie is an innocent, simple, hard-working and romantic girl. Also she is realistic, enterprising but vainglorious.First, her simplicity and naivete. She is easy to be moved by man’s complaisance. On the train to Chi cago she met Drouet, and when she got off the train, Drouet offered to help her take the package. She said,”very kind of you.” and felt that it was very lucky to get care in strange place. Carrie didn’t knowDrouet was a person who liked to be adored by women and make them happy. When Carrie couldn’t find job after an illness, she met Drouet again. He invited Carrie to dinner and gave her 20 dollars to buy clothes. Carrie felt ashamed and refused him, but she accepted at last under the lure of money. Then she thought Drouet was a generous and good person, but she didn’t know he was only a man who took the pursuit ofwomen for fun. (洪艺帆)Second, she is diligent and enterprising.Carrie’s diligence is shown principally in her work. When she first arrived in Chicago and the next day, she went out to find a job. For running all day, she finally found a job that pays four point five dollars a week in a shoes factory. Though it was low-paid, long working hours, and poor working conditions, she endured that. After she became the mistress of Drouet, who belongs to the Masonic, Carrie tried to improve herself in taste. And at that time, the Masonic was performing a fund-raising play. In order to act the heroine, Carrie practiced at home every day. She knew that if she wanted to success, she had to hardworking and finally she performed this role successfully.Hurstwood lured Carrie to New York and they lived together. Carrie first was a housewife, but when Hurstwood was unemployment and stayed at home, she had to go out to look for a job to change the situation which was getting embarrassing. Then she worked in a choir as a humble chorus actor. But she never gave up hope and made great effort in living a better life, she eventually became more and more popular. Without her diligence and gumption, Carrie could not get success at last.Third, she is romantic and practical. Her romance reflected in her fantasy of life and emotion, she imagined that she willeventually be paid off and her hardworking will not be wasted. When she got her first job, she fantasied that a happy life is waiting for her. But her fantasy soon shattered, she lost her job.The romance is also reflected in her emotional fantasies, her first fantasy is that she and Drouet would get married, and later fantasy is that Hurstwood and she would be happy together, but both of them are shattered. After she became famous, she still was not happy. So she gradually became practical. When Hurstwood was unemployed, she lefthim and tried to find her position. She is romantic because she does not understand that social competition is brutal, sinister; she is practical because she learned that only by working hard can she live a wanted life.（惠宝琴）Fourth, Carrie is a Woman with strong vanity and desire for material, which contributed to her make succeeds in the future. Her heart is filled with the desire of wear and beauty. When she went to the department store to look for a job, Carrie was always attracted by trinkets, jewelry and so on. She wanted to wear all the jewelry on her body and desire to have them all. At the same time, she was eager to dress beautiful to show off her in here. “What a happy thing it is”! And it displayed her pursuit of fame and fortune. However, It is precisely that this vanity makes her not satisfied with her present situation, which made her out of the circle of her own lives and, ultimately, she met with success and got the fame and gain what she wanted.Fifth, Carrie's independence is not her willing，but is forced out. She came to Chicago to live with her brother-in-law and sister’s home and had to look for a job by herself. But when she got a job, she must pay for meals to her sister. But she was not welcomed by the families after she was unemployment, theysuggest her to return home. And then at that Carrie she fall in love with Drouet, but after a short while she breaking up and to find a job again. Later she was lured to New York by Hurstwood, Carrie not satisfied the present situation and she make great effort to find jobs, after failing many times and tried several,she finally became the main star of the Broadway.From the above analysis, we know that Carrie is an innocent single, Pure, hard-working, romantic and realistic, carefully compare good but vanity compared with the strong independent women. After reading the work, I tastethe author has two intention. On the one hand, I understand the author in order to praise the men who are similar to Carrie that making a wonderful achievement in a highly competitive society through effort. On the other hand, the author want to reflect the social reality. Though the live of Carrie, it is reflect the social scene and the status situation from the side. （苗悦）。
_嘉莉妹妹_中的自然主义与_美国梦_
外国文学研究ｏｄｅｒｎ ｃｈｉｎｅｓｅ２０１０．０４西奥多·德莱塞是２０世纪美国著名作家，他的《嘉莉妹妹》引发了读者对嘉莉道德的质疑，同时评论家也对作者的人生观和价值观产生诸多疑问：“他纵容了一个失去自我、踩着别人肩膀尤其以牺牲男人为代价爬上上层社会从而达到目的的女人”［１］（Ｐ１４２）；“一个道德沦丧的女人最后却没有受到惩罚”［２］（Ｐ２０２），“受自己本能的驱使借一切机会向上爬的利己主义者”［３］（Ｐ６１）。
然而，作为一个自然主义的代表，德莱塞真实地再现了１９ 世纪末２０世纪初的美国大都市生活，把自己的辛酸融入了作品中。
一、自然主义与《嘉莉妹妹》１９世纪后期，资本主义在美国迅速发展，城市化现象尤为明显，这些特征在文学作品中都有体现。
与此同时，科学的发展也极大地影响着文学的发展，自然主义就是在这样的时代下产生的。
自然主义作品经常以高度写实的手法直接描写社会生活环境的残酷性：大都市的繁华，小人物摆脱贫困命运的挣扎来揭露人类本性中的黑暗面以及人类在这样的现实面前的软弱无助。
因此，美国自然主义文学有时也被称为残酷现实主义。
《嘉莉妹妹》是西奥多·德莱塞的处女作。
小说叙述了农村姑娘嘉莉从闭塞的村庄到繁华的都市来寻求新生活，成为一名喜剧演员的经历。
她先后沦为两位男人——杜洛埃与赫斯特渥德的情妇，最后她凭借着自己与生俱来的美貌和表演天赋成为了一颗冉冉升起的喜剧明星，而赫斯特渥德却从一位风度翩翩，衣冠楚楚的酒店经理沦落为街头乞丐，最后悲惨地死去。
西奥多·德莱塞写的《嘉莉妹妹》充分体现了自然主义的消极论及决定论。
德莱塞十分注重环境的描写，特别强调客观环境对作品中人物性格命运的决定作用，强调环境决定人物，决定人性善恶，决定人的本质属性。
《嘉莉妹妹》这部作品的背景是工业化过程中的美国大都市。
经济的繁荣改变了美国人传统的工作、生活方式，工业和交通的飞速发展使得城市化进程加快。
成千上万的渴望致富的人涌向城市，以此来实现自己的“美国梦”。
论嘉莉妹妹的美国梦
论嘉莉妹妹的美国梦论嘉莉妹妹的美国梦学院、专业研究方向学生姓名学号指导教师姓名指导教师职称AbstractSister Carrie is the first novel of Theodore Dreiser, the outstanding novelist in American literature. The novel received wide controversy since its publication, and the main character Carrie is also a controversial person. The thesis tries to analyze Carrie’s American Dream and the causes of her disillusioned dream.Besides an introduction and a conclusion, the thesis is divided into three parts. In the introduction, the author introduces the plot of Sister Carrie and former studies on Sister Carrie briefly. And the author also tells the purpose of the thesis. In the first chapter, the author introduces Dreiser and his works first, and then describes American social environment in the 1900s. In the second chapter, the author briefly introduces American Dream and analyzes what Carrie’s American Dream is. In the third chapter, the author tries to explain how Carrie’s American Dream disillusioned, and then gives two causes of Carrie’s disillusion with the American Dream: one is her greed, another is her way of pursuing happiness. At last, the author draws the conclusion: Carrie is the representative of most Americans in the early 20th century, her way of pursuing happiness is influenced by the social environment. And we should draw a lesson from her.Key words: Carrie;American Dream; desire; disillusion摘要《嘉莉妹妹》是美国文学中著名的小说家西奥多•德莱赛的处女作。
梦的破灭——浅析小说《嘉莉妹妹》中的“美国梦”
很 多文 学作 品 中都 能体 现 出来。 文 以《 莉 妹妹 》 例 ， 本 嘉 为 通 过 嘉 莉 对 幸 福 生 活 的 追 求 来 分 析 这 部 作 品 中 反 映 的
陆 。 从 此 “ 利 平 等 ” 人 人 都 能 成 功 ” 为 “ 国 梦 ” 初 权 “ 成 美 最 的 口号 。 ｌ 世 纪 末 ， 国 西 部 发 现 了 多 处 金 矿 ， 们 从 各 ８ 美 人 地 蜂 拥 而 至 ， 实 现 自 己 的 “ 金 梦 ” 此 时 通 过 节 俭 和 勤 去 淘 ， 劳致 富 的 “ 国梦 ”变 成 了人 人 都 能 一夜 暴 富 的 “ 金 美 淘 梦” 。美 国 内 战 时 ， 业 化 进 程 开 始 ， 富 差 距 的 悬 殊 ， 工 贫 使 得人 人 渴望 金 钱财 富 。 着 工业 化 进程 的深入 ． 些 大都 随 一 市相 继 出现 ， 望 金 钱 、 望进 入 上 层 社会 使 “ 国梦 ” 渴 渴 美 充
摆 脱 贫 困过 上 富裕 生活 而 做 的“ 国梦 ” 在离 开 家 乡时 ， 美 。 嘉 莉 的 心 里 还 是 怀 着 对 父 母 的 依 恋 。对 自 己 从 小 生 活 的 村 庄 、 己熟 悉 的 故 乡 的 依 依 惜 别 之 情 的 。 因 为 ， 从 养 自 要 育 自己 的 父 母 身 边 离 开 ，从 自 己熟 悉 的 乡 村 生 活 环 境 到 陌 生 的 大 都 市 的 环 境 中 去 对 于 一 个 只 有 十 八 岁 、 人 生 经 验 贫 乏 的少女 而 言可 谓 异 常危 险 。 而 ， 女 的 梦想 是无 然 少 限 美 好 的 ， 使 前 方 道 路 坎 坷 ， 已 不 重 要 。 前 方 的 路 已 即 也 经 选 定 ，她 已 经 开 始 模 模 糊 糊 地 憧 憬 起 自 己 美 好 的 未 来
美国梦_驶向不归路的欲望之车_解读_嘉莉妹妹_中主要人物的美国梦_李彤
第24卷第3期 南宁师范高等专科学校学报 VOL.24 NO.3 2007年9月 JOURNAL OF NANNING TEACHERS COLLEGE Sept.2007收稿日期：2007-06-21作者简介：李 彤（1979-）女，广西工学院外语系教师，广西师范大学外国语学院硕士研究生，研究方向：英美文学。
美国梦——驶向不归路的欲望之车——解读《嘉莉妹妹》中主要人物的美国梦李 彤(广西工学院 外语系，广西 柳州 545006 )摘 要：《嘉莉妹妹》是美国二十世纪杰出的自然主义作家－西奥多·德莱塞的第一部小说。
本文通过文本分析，深刻剖析了生活在十九世纪美国的女主人公嘉莉及赫斯渥在不同欲望的驱使下所追求的各自的美国梦。
关键词：美国梦; 欲望中图分类号：I106.4 文献标识码：A 文章编号：1008-696X(2007)03-0031-02American Dream, a Car of Lust Driven for Depression—Analysis of American Dreams of the Main Characters in Sister CarrieLi Tong(Foreign Language Department, Guangxi Industrial College, Liuzhou, Guangxi 545006)Abstract ：Sister Carrie is the first novel of Theodore Dreiser, an outstanding American naturalist writer in the 20th century. Based on text analysis, the paper expounds that, driven by various lusts, both Carrie and Hurstwood, living in the 20th century of the United States, seek for different American dreams.Key words ：American dream; lust西奥多·德莱塞是美国20世纪杰出的自然主义作家。
浅析_嘉莉妹妹_中美国梦的破灭_杜艳霞
·欧美文学·作品评析及其它·韩静胡燕等浅析《嘉莉妹妹》中美国梦的破灭杜艳霞摘要：美国梦体现了人们希望通过自我奋斗实现理想的信仰。
然而残酷的社会现实使人们陷入了迷茫，美国梦也随之扭曲。
这种状况在美国的许多文学作品中都能体现出来。
本文以《嘉莉妹妹》为研究对象，揭示了社会底层人们想通过平等，努力获得成功实现所谓的美国梦的破灭。
关键词：美国梦；嘉莉妹妹；实现；破灭一、美国梦的起源与发展所谓的美国梦（American Dream），是一种相信只要在美国经过努力不懈的奋斗便能获致更好生活的理想，亦即人们必须透过自己的工作勤奋、勇气、创意、和决心迈向繁荣，而非依赖于特定的社会阶级和他人的援助。
美国人认为，任何人都可以通过自身的努力来改变自己的社会地位，他们崇尚从乡村小木屋到白宫，从一贫如洗的穷小子到腰缠万贯的富翁的道路。
美国梦起源于17世纪英格兰移民乘坐五月花号来的美洲寻找清教徒的“净土”时,当时的美国信奉的是政治权利平等和宗教自由，相信只要努力奋斗，都可以实现自己的梦想，在一定程度上美国梦是一种催人奋进的理想。
当历史发展到18世纪末美国加州金矿的发现，激起了淘金热的狂潮。
人们对金钱的欲望猛增都梦想着一夜暴富，此时的美国梦已经开始扭曲。
19世纪末随着工业化进程的发展，美国出现了大的城市，大量的农村人口向城市涌入希望通过自己的努力拥入财富和社会地位，但是冰冷的社会现实使人们陷入了迷茫。
人们不再相信平等和勤奋，甚至为了获取财富不择手段，此时的美国梦扭曲成了牺牲一切获取财富的梦想。
它所体现的发愤图强的精神，被过度的物质追求所影响，逐渐的消失。
文学是社会的缩影，伴随着美国梦的扭曲，一些文学作品进一步揭露了美国梦的实质，使人们逐渐意识到对于广大的下层贫民来说，美国梦只是一种无法达到的梦想。
本文选择《嘉莉妹妹》作为研究对象，揭示了社会底层人们要想通过平等，努力获得成功实现所谓的美国梦的破灭。
用马斯洛需求层次理论分析《嘉莉妹妹》中的人物
摘要《嘉莉妹妹》讲述了一位农村女孩不甘贫穷,独自来到芝加哥实现自己的“美国梦”，最终成为了纽约百老汇的一位著名演员，物质享受得到满足，精神却陷入迷失的故事。
阅读这部小说我们很容易注意到嘉莉不断升级的需要及日益增长的欲望，及在追求欲望的过程中对传统道德的违背。
本文主要依据马斯洛层次需求理论，分析嘉莉及与嘉莉妹妹关系密切的两位男主人公，在不同时期的不同需要，并分析这些欲望产生的原因，即一方面是人物内在的欲望，另一方面是环境、城市的诱惑等外在因素。
这两方面的相互作用最终导致嘉莉陷入精神的迷失。
《嘉莉妹妹》的故事似乎在警示我们，在物质越来越发达的今天，人们不应该盲目追求物质的享受，而应该充分认识到精神带给人们的幸福感和满足感,思索自己人生的意义和价值所在。
关键词：嘉莉妹妹；欲望；层次需求理论AbstractSister Carrie tells the story of a small country girl Carrie who moves to Chicago to realize her “American Dream” and eventually becomes a Broadway star in New York. Despite living a luxurious life, she is lost in spirit. Reading the novel, we may easily notice Carrie’s different needs and desires arising gradually and also the betrayal of traditional moral code in the process of pursuing material gain. The paper analyzes the reasons why Carrie and two male heroes closed to her have various needs at different stages of life, mainly based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. One is figures’inner desires; the other is the outside force, including temptations of environment, cites, etc. The interaction between them makes Carrie lose herself eventually. It seems to tell people that in modern society material supplies more and more abundantly, but we should never pursue it blindly and much importance should be attached to happiness and stability created by spirit. It is essential to ponder the significance and the value of life.Key words: Sister Carrie; desire; hierarchy of needsContentsChapter 1 General Introduction (1)1.1 About the author and the novel (1)1.1.1 The author: Theodore Dreiser (1)1.1.2 The novel: Sister Carrie (1)1.2 About Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs (2)Chapter 2 Carrier’s needs (4)2.1 Carrie’s primary needs (4)2.1.1 The physiological needs: leaving for Chicago (4)2.1.2 The safety needs: becoming Drouet’s mistress (5)2.2 Carrie’s higher level needs (6)2.2.1 The love and belonging needs — awaking step (6)2.2.2 The esteem needs — advanced development (7)2.2.3 The self-actualization needs — ultimate goal (8)Chapter 3 Drouet’s needs (10)3.1 Drouet’s primary needs (10)3.1.1 The physiological needs: the pursuit of Carrie (10)3.1.2 The safety needs: the satisfaction of material (11)3.2 Droue t’s higher level needs (12)Chapter 4 Hurstwood’s needs (13)4.1 Hurstwood’s needs in Chicago (13)4.1.1 Hurstwood’s physiological needs (13)4.1.2 Hurstwood’s safety needs (14)4.1.3 Hurstwood’s love and belonging needs (14)4.2 Hurstwood’s needs in New York (15)Conclusion (17)References (19)Acknowledgments (20)Chapter 1 General Introduction1.1 About the author and the novel1.1.1 The author: Theodore DreiserTheodore Dreiser is the most outstanding realistic novelist in the history of American literature. He is also an American naturalistic writer famous for the exploration of realistic life. Dreiser was born in Indiana in a poor German immigrant family. When Dreiser was eight, his mother was forced by the pressure of living, left home with him and three other young children, wandered from one town to another in the Midwest. The family lived a tough and criticized life. Dreiser’s childhood also endured poverty and ignorance.In 1887, he came to Chicago alone, worked in restaurants and hardware companies. In spite of this, he was attracted by the city life full of excitement and stimulation. In 1889, “he was sponsored by a sympathetic middle school teacher to study at the University of Indiana. But he dropped out of school the next year, returned to Chicago to become a debt collector in a real estate and furniture company” (Wang Sixiang, 2009: 158). This job led him to come into contact with the underworld characters and the dark side of society, accumulated a wealth of material for the future creation. It also determined the naturalistic color and the tragic thought of his creation. Dreiser entered the press in 1892, started to be a journalist. In Chicago, he witnessed the strong contrast of extreme poverty and extravagant life. These experiences are the beginning of his thought, which led him to create his own novel.1.1.2 The novel: Sister CarrieSister Carrie, Theodore Dreiser’s first novel, is a good work of epoch-making significance in the history of American fiction. This novel tells the story of Caroline Meeber, a pretty rural girl, leaves her rural home to make a living in Chicago. On the train, she meets Charles Drouet, a traveling salesman. The harsh reality shatters her dream. At the same time, in front of her is unemployment and disease. In desperation she becomes Drouet’s mistress. Later, due to the greater desire, she becomes the hotelmanager Hurstwood’s mistress. Hurstwood and Carrie elope to New York, and Carrie becomes a popular actor by chance and squeezes into the upper class. However, Hurstwood becomes poorer and finally committed suicide. The life of upper class does not make her feel satisfied. She feels empty and can not find the real meaning of life. In the loneliness and desolation, she sits in a rocking chair dreaming of the happiness that she would not get.The novel reveals the cruel squeezing of the American capitalist system for poor people and the corrosive action of bourgeois lifestyle for petty bourgeois. And the moral concept the novel reflects is also a counter-tradition. Because Carrie rather than be punished for her depravity, but becomes a popular star of musical comedies finally. Therefore, this book has aroused widespread concern in society since it was published, was banned for a time which led up to intense controversy of the literary world for more than 30 years until it is regarded as a classic to gain public recognition. Until today the novel was born one hundred years later, people are still controversial about Carrie’s character and behavior, especially her endless desire.1.2 About Maslow’s hierarchy of human needsIn Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, there are five kinds of needs ranging from lower level to higher level. These are physiological, safety, love, esteem, and self-actualization needs. (1)The physiological needs — it is the most basic requirement of human beings, including food, sleep, water, secretion, and sex. If any one of these needs, except sex, can not be satisfied, the physiological function of human can not operate normally. In other words, the life of human would be threatened. In this sense, the physiological need is the primary motivation of people’s action. Maslow believes that only those basic needs be met, the other needs can become new motivating factors. And to this point, the needs has been relatively satisfied will no longer be motivating factors. (2)The safety needs — it is the demand for the following things: personal and property safety, health care, job security and family safety. Maslow believes that the pursuit of the whole organism is a security mechanism, the human receptors, effectors’ organs, intelligence and other forms of energy are mainly seeking safety tools. We can even put both science and philosophy as part of meeting the security needs. (3)The love and belonging needs — if both physiological and safety needs are relatively well satisfied, and then there will emerge the love and belonging needs. Everyone wants to get mutual concern and care.The love and belonging needs is more meticulous than the physiological needs. It relates to a person’s physiological characteristics, experience, education and religion. Generally people will hunger for affectionate relations with others, for a place in the group and have a family. (4)The esteem needs — everyone wants to have a stable social status. And it requests that personal ability and achievements are recognized by the society. These needs can be divided into two parts. First is the desire for strength, achievement, adequacy, confidence and freedom. Secondly, we have what we may call the desire for reputation, attention, importance or appreciation. Satisfaction of the esteem need can make people have confidence, worth, strength, capability and adequacy of being useful and necessary in the world. (5)The self-actualization needs — it is the highest level of needs. It refers to the realization of personal ideals, aspirations and the individual’s ability to the greatest degree. Maslow notes that in order to satisfy self-actualization needs, different people take different measures. The self-actualization need is an effort to realize their potential. It is to make them become the characters they desire to be.These basic needs are related to each one and another, but any physiological and safety needs that remain unsatisfied will keep playing an important role, and needs at one level do not have to be completely satisfied before needs at the next higher level come into play. This means that the highest goal will monopolize consciousness and will tend to organize the recruitment of the various capacities of the organism. The lower needs are minimized, even forgotten or denied. But when a need is fairly well satisfied, the next higher need emerges,in turn to dominate the conscious life and to serve as the center of organization of behavior, since gratified needs are not active motivators.Chapter 2 Carrier’s needs2.1 Carrie’s primary needs2.1.1 The physiological needs: leaving for ChicagoBy the end of the Civil War (1861-1865), most of the forces that would typify twentieth century American had begun to emerge. Northern industrialism had triumphed over southern agrarianism. The great age of big city bossism began. Americans ceased to be isolated from the world and from each other. Soon the United States had the most extensive railroad system in the world. The tempo of life accelerated as Americans became increasingly mobile. From 1870 to 1890 the total population of the United States doubled. Villages became towns, towns became cities, and cities grew to a size with a speed that would have astonished the Founding Fathers. The population of Chicago increased twenty times to two million, making it the nation’s second largest city after New York. The national income quadrupled. It was the beginning of what Mark Twain called “The Gilded Age”. Thousands and thousands of men, women and children native-born and foreign, flooded to American cities, drawn by hopes for making their fortune. They believed that anyone could grasp an opportunity to attain success through honest and hard work. Just as American naturalists argued: the world was amoral, that men and women had no free will, that their lives were controlled by heredity and the environment.Dreiser clothed the social phenomenon of so-called “American Dream” through his character, Carrie. At the beginning of the novel, the heroin, Carrie, keeps pace with the general trend of the time, and moves to Chicago, which is not far away from her hometown. She is eighteen years old, bright, timid, and full of the illusions of ignorance and youth:And yet she was interested in her charms, quickly to understand the keenerpleasures of life, ambitious to gain in material things. A half-equipped littleknight she was, venturing to reconnoiter the mysterious city and dreamingwild dreams of some vague, far-off supremacy, which should make it preyand subject-the proper penitent, groveling at a woman’s slipper. (TheodoreDreiser, 1979: 3)In Maslow’s view, humans are wanting beings, mainly because humans are not satisfied with the status and are eager to achieve a higher realm. Desire is one of the strong emotions which tells people that he is still curious to exist, that he still have an edge on his longings and want to bite into the world. Carrie is driven by the environment and the internal desire to move to Chicago. Strictly speaking, it is the physiological needs. Carrie wants to change the poor life. She begins to hunt a job to earn money to fulfill her needs. Carrie accepts a job in a shoe factory for four and a half dollars a week. Every week she pays four dollars for her board and lodging. Does the story develop smoothly like this? The author gave a hint by writing “When a girl leaves her home at eighteen, she does one of two things. Either she falls into saving hands and becomes better, or she rapidly assumes the cosmopolitan standard of virtue and becomes worse” (Zhang Xiaowei, 2011: 203). Carrie tries to live on her own to start her first step of material pursuit.2.1.2 The safety needs: becoming Drouet’s mistressChicago is a charming city indeed. Carrie is surrounded by various temptations: Carrie passed along the busy aisles, much affected by the remarkabledisplays of trinkets, dress goods, stationary and jewelry. Each separatecounter was a show place of dazzling interest and attraction. She could nothelp feeling the claim of each trinket and valuable upon her personally.There was nothing there which she could not have to used-nothing whichshe did not along to own. The dainty slippers and stockings, the delicatelyfrilled skirts and petticoats, the laces, ribbons, hair-combs, purses, all touchher with individual desires. (Theodore Dreiser, 1979: 27)She longs for dress and beauty with a whole heart.But the fact is that the cold reality takes her by the hand. First, her sister and brother-in-law live a lean life and consumed by housework. The money left by Carrie every week is not enough for her car fares, let alone clothes, laces, ribbons, etc. And none of those things is in the range of her purchase. Second, in the shoe factory, the machines work intensively. Carrie is not strong. Her shoulders and necks ache in bending over and she is totally exhausted every day. “As Carrie listened to this and much more of similar familiar badinage among the men and the girls, she instinctively withdraws into herself. She feared that the young boys about would address such remarks to he r” (LI Wei, 2011: 278). The wholeatmosphere of the shoe factory is sordid.Carrie does not like to bear the hard work, the foul working condition and the human environment. She hopes to break away from the factory to enjoy physical comfort and from such uncouth men to keep her calm. Third, as the rigorous winter is around the corner, Carrie worries about the problem of winter clothes, for she has nothing to wear. At last, as a result of illness she loses the job and to return hometown seems to be the only choice.According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, if the physiological needs are relatively well gratified, there then emerge the safety needs. The problem is that whether she can satisfy it or not, it depends on the reality which supplies enough conditions or not, besides her own effort. Carrie understands that it is impossible to buy dress and entertain herself by her personal diligence. Drouet is, for Carrie, an escape. She does not love him, but he means a source of amazement, and she recognizes that the relative opulence of his chambers and department he procures for Carrie are the signs of that for which she is striving. Eventually she betrays herself to become Drouet’s mistress to realize her safety need. Carrie and Drouet pay a visit all round the city and go shopping, take part in various activities, enjoy delicious foods. It seems that Carrie has never hesitated,“Money! Money! What a thing it was to have! How plenty of it would clear away all the troubles” (Theodore Dreiser, 1979: 82). She surrendered to the magic of money. At the second stage of material pursuit, Carrie has a much stronger desire. She falls in love with it without reason.2.2 Carrie’s higher level needs2.2.1 The love and belonging needs — awaking stepAs the plot goes, the author depicts a panorama of rising needs and desire. On one hand, Carrie is not just satisfied with living together with Drouet:That young lady, under the stress of her situation and the tutelage of hernew friend, changed effectively. She the glow of a more showy life was notupon her. She did not grow in knowledge so much as she awakened in thematter of desire. Mrs. Hale’s extended harangues upon the subjects ofwealth and position taught her to distinguish between degrees of wealth.(Theodore Dreiser, 1979: 140)When she comes to her own room, Carrie sees her comparative poverty. She is not comparing it with what she has had, but what she has seen recently. She begins toponder what, after all, Drouet is and what she is. On the other hand, Carrie fears of losing Drouet’s affection, of being abandoned, and also she longs for someone to sympathize with her, but not let her ponder and wonder. It makes clear to Carrie that Drouet could not understand her. He just cares about her beauty. When Carrie is sorrow, he only asks her to dance. Carrie feels lonely and forsaken. What’s more, Carrie believes Drouet does not plan to marry her. He prefers the single state to any legal bondage. These two sides wake up Carrie’s deep desire. She “hopes to live an extravagant life but not from hand to mouth” (Peng Dankui, 1995: 74). She is eager to be understood and loved. Drouet is only an intermediary in her movement from poverty to affluence. Carrie is ready and longs to change.More wealth and higher status are Carrie’s new goal. At this time, Hurstwood becomes another male stepladder to gratify her needs both in material and spirit. Hurstwood can give her a life of honor. Carrie recognizes the quality of Hurstwood’s clothes, his style and his bearing as distinct improvements on Drouet. Hurstwood shows his thoughts and feelings concerning Carrie. “In contrast, Hurstwood appeared strong and sincere. He had no easy manner of putting her off. He sympathized with her and showed her what her true value was. He needed her, while Drouet did not care” (Gao Chenke, 2011: 115).Though Carrie has achieved her material goal, all in all, she has another need—love. Carrie begins to care about her inner thoughts, which takes the first step of exploring her spirit. Carrie’s spirit pursuit is based on material pursuit.2.2.2 The esteem needs — advanced developmentAfter becoming Hurstwood’s mistress, in a material way, Carrie is considerably improved. Hurstwood writes her regularly-a letter every morning. They both enjoy the happy days. Carrie has an opportunity to take part in a play. It is not an important thing, but because of the prestige of Hurstwood, it is significant. “By the time of the 16th had arrived Hurstwood’s friends had rallied like Romans to a senator’s call. A well-dressed, good-natured, flatteringly-inclined audience was assured from the moment he thought of assisting Carrie”(Theodore Dreiser, 1979: 209). Carrie moves into a new environment. She feels the respect and power of celebrities. Carrie’s needs develop further: the esteem needs. That is the desire for confidence and appreciation:There was nothing bold in her manner. Life had not taught herdomination-superciliousness of grace, which is the lordly power of somewomen. Her longing for consideration was not sufficiently powerful tomove her to demand it. Even now she lacked self-assurance, but there wasthat in what she had already experienced which left her a little less thantimid. She wanted pleasure, she wanted position. (Theodore Dreiser, 1979:176)For Carrie she is nervous. She hopes the play could succeed to gain confidence and appreciation, “The glamour, the tense situation, the fine clothes, the applause, these had lured her until she felt that she, too, could act-that she, too, could compel acknowledgment of power” (Theodore Dreiser, 1979: 192). Carrie tries best to explore her potentials.2.2.3 The self-actualization needs — ultimate goalHurstwood coaxes Carrie to elope to New York. But he is merely another man who either cannot hold or find a job. He forces to begin the battle for place and comfort all over again. But his situation becomes worse and worse. At the beginning, he strolls about, and then he just picks his papers up, and stays for day after day. At last, he becomes a beggar completely, lived by other’s charity. Finally he committed suicide by turning on the gas in a Bowery flophouse. When the attraction of material disappears, it is inevitable for Carrie to abandon Hurstwood. The physiological and safety needs play an important role now. Carrie begins to make a livelihood on her own. Different from the former experience, this time, she is successful by her own power without depending on some other men. Carrie becomes an actor because of her pretty-look and her diligence. Her salary rises from 30 dollars to 150 dollars per week. She becomes a famous star. She could possess of her gowns and carriage, her furniture and bank account. But she is alone, “It does not take money long to make plain its important, providing the desires are in the realm of affection. With one hundred and fifty in hand, Carrie could think of nothing particularly to do. In itself, as a tangible, apparent thing which she could touch and look upon, but this soon passed” (Theodore Dreiser, 1979: 548).After Carrie gains her economic status, there is only self-actualization need left. And Ames helps Carrie sublimate her spiritual pursuit into the world of literature and philosophy. Ames isn’t attracted by Carrie’s beauty, but there is something in him that has attracted her. Ames says to Carrie that riches are not everything, and there is always a great deal more in the world than she has known. Carrie understands that the thingsAmes pointed out is not money, or clothes, or applauses but a kind heart to serve others. It is an aesthetic world of which Carrie has not dreamed of and which she recognizes as a new peak to conquer and a new level to achieve. Carrie moves to the highest needs, which states that the true value of life is not in what we get but in what we give. This is the ultimate goal in her spiritual world.Chapter 3 Drouet’s needs3.1 Drouet’s primary needs3.1.1 The physiological needs: the pursuit of CarrieDrouet is a man who has a keen desire for the feminine. In the driving of the sexual instinct, he will involuntarily chase every beautiful woman he meets. After seeing beautiful pure Carrie on the train, he is attracted by her. With beautiful clothes, grandiose talk and his experiences of chatting up girls, Drouet wins Carrie’s favor. Just as the author says:Let him meet with a young woman once and he would approach her withan air of kindly familiarity, not unmixed with pleading, which would resultin most cases in a tolerant acceptance. If she showed any tendency tocoquetry he would be apt to straighten her tie, or if she “took up” with himat all, to call her by her first name. If he visited a department store it was tolounge familiarly over the counter and ask some leading questions. In moreexclusive circles, on the train or in waiting stations, he went slower. If someseemingly vulnerable object appeared he was all attention to pass thecompliments of the day to lead the way to the parlor car, carrying her grip,or, failing that, to take a seat next her with the hope of being able to courther to her destination. Pillows, books, a footstool, the shade lowered; allthese figured in the things which he could do. If, when she reached herdestination he did not alight and attend her baggage for her, it was because,in his own estimation, he had signally failed. (Theodore Dreiser, 1979:5) Drouet’s chasing for young beautiful girls is not because he is a cold-blooded, black heart, scheming villain, but because he is full of lust. When Drouet meet Carrie in the street secondly, Carrie was looking for a job and has no winter clothes to wear. Then he use Carrie’s plight to persuade her to leave her sister’s home and l ive together with him. After Carrie beca me Drouet’s mistress, Drouet didn’t have the plan to marry her. In the second part of the novel, Drouet and Carrie met again in New York, after he tried to mend fences and Carrie refused, he was not feeling so sad. Because, for him, he canfind a woman for pleasure wherever. Losing Carrie is not so important for him. At the end of the novel, on the night of a big snowstorm, he is talking with a partner to discuss where to look for a woman to have fun.3.1.2 The safety needs: the satisfaction of materialThe great industrial development in American brings about the booming of the cities like Chicago and New York. At the same time, the social gap between the rich and the poor is widening. People are obviously graded. Whether having high material consumption ability has almost become the sole criterion of level division. Drouet is divided into middle class in this social background. He doesn’t have to live in poverty like Hanson, but not as well as Hurstwood has a wealthy family and prominent position. He is good at enjoying life and the pursuit of a higher level of material comforts, immersed in his salesman career and tried to improve his social status. In his view, his life is fulfilling and almost perfect. He dressed in fashion style, wearing a striped plaid wool suit, white and pink striped shirt, gold-plated button, covered with yellow agate known as the “cat ey e”. His vest dangled a neat gold watch chain, matched with a pair of glowing shoes and a fedora. This fashionable dress greatly satisfied the vanity of him. Drouet’s s afety needs come to be realized in the abundant material world.Drouet likes to have dinner at Rector’s,a restaurant he believes that successful person would go. After dinner, he likes to go to th e resort of Fitzgerald and Moy’s to drink a glass of whiskey and enjoy a couple of cigars. In such a place, he can get to know a variety of celebrities, in order to increase the capital to show off and meet his vanity. The author has described it in detail:Rector’s, with its polished marble walls and floor, its profusion of lights, itsshow of china and silverware, and, above all, its reputation as a resort foractors and professional men, seemed to him the proper place for asuccessful man to go. He loved fine clothes, good eating, and particularlythe company and acquaintanceship of successful men. When dining, it wassource of keen satisfaction to him to know that Joseph Jefferson was wontto come to this same place, that Henry E. Dixie, a well known performer ofthe day, was then only a few tables off. (Theodore Dreiser, 1979: 39) As a successful salesman, Drouet believes that it is an honor to be able to make celebrities. At the same time, the big company he is working for also let him feel glory. With the reputation of Bartlett, Caryoe & Company, his work goes well. Although he isnot rich, also does not have a high social status, but he is good at communication, appropriate interaction with others, which also provides a possibility of success in his career. Living with Carrie, Drouet’s career developed gradually and his social status improved accordingly. When he and Carrie meet again, he has been responsible for a branch and is about to establish his own company. He can meet Carrie’s desire for material. He bought her beautiful dresses and coats, purchased cosmetics and went to the theatre with her. But objectively speaking, he was too concerned with material life, treat feelings do not serious. This is also the most dissatisfied for Carrie.3.2 Drouet’s higher level needsAlthough the physiological and material satisfaction is very important for Drouet, he has some higher level of needs. As a traveling salesman, Drouet’s social status is not high. He frequently went to the restaurants and pubs which celebrities always went to. In addition to the pursuit of material comforts, but also he is in the search for a social identity and the sense of belonging. Eating and talking together with the upper-class people, let him have a feeling of integrated into the society.His pursuit of Carrie is not only to satisfy his needs for sex, but also to get rid of the emptiness.Due to his work requirement, Drouet often go to travel around, and he is lacking of group sense of belonging. While Carrie as his mistress, can bring him some emotional comfort.In addition, Carrie’s young and beautiful can meet Drouet’s vanity. And he can show off in social occasions. However, Carrie is not the only choice for Drouet. Instead of creating a stable family, the best way to meet his spiritual emptiness is to seek new love affairs constantly. That is also the reason why he does not marry Carrie.。
社会转型期的“美国梦试论嘉莉妹妹的道德倾向
社会转型期的“美国梦试论嘉莉妹妹的道德倾向一、本文概述本文旨在探讨社会转型期的“美国梦”以及德莱塞小说《嘉莉妹妹》中主人公嘉莉的道德倾向。
社会转型期通常指的是社会结构、价值观念、经济形态等方面发生深刻变革的时期，而“美国梦”则是美国文化中一种普遍的信仰，认为只要通过个人努力，每个人都有可能实现自己的成功和幸福。
德莱塞的《嘉莉妹妹》以其对当时美国社会现实的深刻描绘和主人公嘉莉的道德选择，为我们提供了一个观察和思考社会转型期“美国梦”的绝佳视角。
本文首先将对“美国梦”的内涵及其在社会转型期的变化进行概述，分析这一时期“美国梦”的特点及其对个人道德选择的影响。
随后，将重点解读《嘉莉妹妹》中嘉莉的道德倾向，探讨她在面对社会变革和个人命运的挑战时，如何理解和追求“美国梦”，以及她的道德选择对她个人命运和社会的影响。
通过这一研究，我们希望能够更深入地理解社会转型期“美国梦”对个人道德选择的影响，以及个人如何在复杂多变的社会环境中坚持自己的道德原则，实现自我价值。
也希望通过嘉莉的故事，引发对当代社会中“美国梦”的反思，思考如何在追求个人成功和幸福的坚守道德底线，实现社会的和谐与进步。
二、《嘉莉妹妹》中的“美国梦”解读《嘉莉妹妹》是西奥多·德莱塞的代表作之一，通过对主人公嘉莉的生活经历与道德选择的描绘，深刻揭示了19世纪末20世纪初美国社会转型期的“美国梦”现象。
在这一背景下，“美国梦”不仅仅是追求财富与成功，更是个人对于自我实现和社会地位提升的渴望。
嘉莉妹妹的道德倾向与她的“美国梦”追求紧密相连。
她初到芝加哥时，怀揣着对大城市生活的美好憧憬，然而现实的残酷却让她迅速陷入困境。
面对生活的压力和诱惑，嘉莉并没有选择放弃，而是通过自己的努力和智慧，逐渐摆脱了贫困的束缚。
她先后成为推销员杜洛埃和酒店经理赫斯渥的情妇，这些经历虽然让她在道德上承受了巨大的压力，但也让她逐渐认识到“美国梦”背后的复杂性和残酷性。
从_嘉丽妹妹_到_美国的悲剧_容荣
2007届研究生硕士学位论文学校代码：10248学号：1071409015上海交通大学从《嘉丽妹妹》到《美国的悲剧》—德莱塞社会观影响下的小说世界院系：外国语学院专业：英语语言文学研究方向：英语语言文学指导教师：左晓岚教授研究生姓名：容荣二零零九年十一月From Sister Carrie to An American Tragedy— Dreiser’s Evolving Social Views and His Fictional WorldByRong RongUnder the Supervision of Professor Zuo XiaolanA Thesis Submitted to the School of Foreign Languages ofShanghai Jiaotong University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of ArtsNovember, 2009Table of Contents ABSTRACT (II)摘要 (III)Acknowledgements (IV)Introduction (1)Chapter One Social and Literary Background (6)1.1 Social background around the turn of the 20th century (6)1.2 Dreiser’s life and literary career (9)1.3 Literature review (14)Chapter Two Dreiser’s Evolving Views on Society (19)2.1 Social setting in Sister Carrie: the natural world (19)2.2 Social setting in An American Tragedy: the commercial cities (22)Chapter Three Characters and Their Values (27)3.1 Characters driven by biological necessities (27)3.2 Materialistic characters and values (30)Chapter Four Forces Playing behind Characters’ Fate (33)4.1 Natural and mechanical forces (33)4.2. Social forces (37)Chapter Five Dreiser’s Evolving Views on Moral Judgment (43)5.1 Lack of Moral Judgment in Sister Carrie (43)5.2 Moral condemnation of all aspects of the capitalist society (46)Conclusion (49)Bibliography (51)ABSTRACTTheodore Dreiser (1871-1945) is one of the representatives of American naturalism. His literary works have been either acclaimed or criticized from the perspective of naturalism. However, Dreiser’s naturalistic dedication does not last lifelong. He involves deeper and deeper in politics in the latter half of his literary career and gradually shows strong tendencies toward socialism. This thesis examines Dreiser’s first novel Sister Carrie and his masterpiece An American Tragedy, for a critical study of the influences Dreiser’s changing ideological thoughts and his social critical standpoint have on his fictional world, so as to prove that Dreiser begins his literary career as a naturalist and gradually outgrows naturalism to become a vigorous social critic with socialist tendencies.This thesis probes into Dreiser’s different views on social setting, on characters and their values, on forces that determine characters’ fate and on moral judgment in the two novels respectively. By doing so, the author compares the naturalistic features of Sister Carrie and the social critical nature of An American Tragedy, and reveals in the latter novel the deeper social criticism, larger social canvas and more tragic portrayal of characters’ destiny, all of which indicates Dreiser’s evolving social views. Sister Carrie concerns about how men, like animals, struggle for existence in the social jungle and are played about by the natural forces. An American Tragedy, on the other hand, probes into the social, economic, political and legal systems to find the root sources of characters’ tragedy and proves that it is a tragedy caused by the capitalist social system and that it can be avoided only if the social systems are changed. Thus, Dreiser has showed strong socialist tendencies in An American Tragedy.Therefore, the thesis reaches the conclusion that to pigeonhole Dreiser in the narrow slot of naturalism does him no credit and that Dreiser has showed socialist tendencies in An American Tragedy by strongly attacking the evils of the capitalist system.Keywords:naturalism, biological properties, social properties, social critic, socialist tendencies摘要西奥多·德莱塞 （1871-1945）是美国自然主义的代言者，评论界对他的作品大多是从自然主义角度进行解读。
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Sister Carrie and American DreamWhat is American Dream?The so-called American Dream , is a belief that as long as the United States after a hard struggle will be able to achieve the ideal of a better life.That is, people have to work through their own hard work, courage, creativity and determination to move towards Prosperity, rather than rely on specific social classes and other assistance,and life should be better and richer .Sister Carrie was originally a pure rural girl. When she was young, she dreamed of the fairy tale palace and a variety of luxurious .So when Carrie grow up ,she with no hesitation to pick cities to meet her own satisfaction . As she grew ,she begin to be tired of the village boring, dull and depressive life.So she said goodbye to her parents alone and to her sister‟s home in Chicago to find her own happy life. On her way to Chicago ,she encountered Drouet on the train for Chicago and after getting off the train, Drouet asked for taking the package for Carrie, she said, "very kind of you." and felt that it is really lucky to get the such complaisant care in strange land. But Carrie didn't know Drouet was a person who only relies on the strong desire and adoration for women and made women happy. She came to Chicago to stay with her sister and brother-in-law‟s home and had to look for a job by herself, and then when she got a job, she must pay for the fees of meals to her sister. After her arrival ,she went out to look for a job, run the whole day, finally found a shoe factory.However,the salary is extremely low , working hours is extremely long ,and working conditions are extremely terrible, but she endured.After a few weeks she was ill and lost her job. After she was unemployment, she was not welcomed, they proposed her to return home.In face of unemployment, sickness, relatives and other practical indifference, prompted her to abandon the original conviction.The First Reality and Dreams ShatteredRural girl Carrie was born in a poor family,but her vanity is very stong and yearn for city life .So she farewelled to her parents and came to Chicago looking for big city dreams and to find her own happy life . However,bustling Chicagometropolitan life and her sister's living condition strongly contrast with her imagination which made her feel lost..After she came to Chicago ,she found that and she could‟t find a decent job,and immediately became unemployed . She fall into poverty and disease .At that time, Carrie realized that great differences between rich and poor.So she strongly desire to have beautiful clothes and decent house and lead a elegant life. Under the cruel reality, all her hopes were ruined.The Second Reality and Dreams ShatteredIn face of the unemployment and poverty as well as to the desperate for money .In order to survive and achieve her dreams, Sister Carrie received the money and house which Drouet given and farewells to her sister and become a young salesman lover of Drouet who dumped for her beauty and he promises to Carrie a better life in the future, so she betray her own body, to become his mistress.At that time, she had led a safe and comfortable life, no longer work for $4.5. However,Drouet is just a playboy, he did not want him to suffer to the restrictions of marriage,. Drouet always have a excuse to delay their weeding ,So Carrie would be discarded at any time.Third Reality and Dreams ShatteredCarrie has been not get married and has not got what she wanted .She didn't satisfy her current life, but want to pursue the much richer, more status of life.At that time she acquaintance d with Walter Hurst. Carrie's purity , beauty,and elegant manner deeply attracted married Waters Hearst. Walter Hurst madly in love with Carrie. At the same time , Walter Hurst‟s manner and status became Carrie to achieve her dream and a pedal. .So Carrie eventually became the married man's mistress. She was in a situation where a closer step to upper society,have more money and more comfortable life than ever before. During on Drouet …s business,they often date.Finally one day, Walter Hurst‟s wife know all that and requires divorcing with Walter Hurst .Walter Hurst would give up his property, wife and children even steal the company's deposits. Carrie was deceived to elope with him. When Carrie knewWalter Hurst has been married and she was deceived and Walter Hurst lied to her dreams shattered again.Fourth Reality and Dreams ShatteredWhen Carrie know that Walter Hurst has married,she lost hope to their love.Walter Hurst with Carrie fled to New York, and Walter Hearst promised to marry to Carrie . Although Carrie does not love Walter Hurst as ever ,she was glad to get a wife's birthright. Her new life is approaching ,but at the time, the way of Hearst Halter …s business start to let down . Walter Hurst has ever been an ambitious businessman but now he was exhausted and depressed by life and business . Carrie …s dream shattered again.Fifth Reality and Dreams ShatteredAfter the failure of career, Carrie was disappointed to the imaginary life, she can not tolerate Walter Hurst‟s poverty , Carrie Unwilling to live in poverty and there is a strong desire for material and fantasy ,which drive Carrie to decided to go to work. she wants to through her own efforts to achieve her dreams. Painstakingly job search experiences, Carrie finally find a job--- an actor. Once was appreciated by her boss and promoted, and finally she became a star who was known by the people all of the world . When Carrie began to rely on her own strength to achieve her own dreams, she no longer depend on men to get what she wanted life, money and status.Carrie With her beauty, intelligence and superior ability to imitate .She gradually ascend and realized her own”American Dream “namely material meet.At last,she dressed in gorgeous clothes and lived in luxury life,and She began to enter the high society. On the surface, it seems that she has realized her dreams.However, after successful Carrie felt unprecedented emptiness and loneliness ,and she didn't feel happy. Instead, the satisfaction of material even more highlighted the lack of spiritual life.From the work itself,Sister Carrie is an innocent ,simple ,hard-working ,romantic and realistic,and the heart is relatively good ,aggressive and vanity is a strong independent women.However ,in that society ,Carrie is a typical representative of the lower people in the United States who intend to ascend . In order to pursue her dreamsCarrie despite of everything.She has ever been done a salesman Drouet's mistress, and she has ever been done a hotel manager Walter Hurst‟s mistree .Carrie is one of the main characters live in the future.Her fate is full of chance, by chance, she met Drouet, by chance she met Walter Hurst, occasionally, she played Laura on the stage roles she played occasionally in the fore, the achievements of her "American dream"! Although Carrie finally fulfilled her American dream ，Carrie got everything she wanted ---- gorgeous costumes, luxurious villas, and fame. it was a failure.Because she felt empty ,and she can not find the real meaning of life, feeling loneliness and desolation ,and the failure mainly attribute to her own desired happiness. ReferencesCondor,JohnJ.NaturalisminAmericanFiction: The Classic Phase.Lexington:University Press“Kentucky,1984.Wang Gang Hua. Sister Carrie's desire and drive [J]. Foreign literature Press , 2002 . Shi Zhi kang. American literature background overview[M]. Shanghai: Shanghai foreign language education press, 1998.Lv Zuo. Sister Carrie's artistic image. Chongqing: southwest normal university journal Press,1988.........忽略此处.......。