1。2 Aims and Significance of the Thesis

    As a conventional novel, Sister Carrie has been studied by a number of scholars and there are numerous of papers on many perspectives。 Among all of them, “American Dream” is a very important and popular one in the study of American culture and literature。 As a kind of faith to pursue success, “American Dream” has been widely believed by thousands of Americans。 And it has inspired countless Americans to pursue a better life all though the American history。 It is a good aspect for readers to study the works and as I have mentioned before, the study on the American Dream reflected on Sister Carrie is among the hottest。 Therefore, I want to further analyze Carrie’s American Dream 。 What’s more, I’d like to try to explore the causes that lead to the disillusioned American Dream on Carrie in both Carrie’s internal side and external side。 On the one hand, Carrie’s desire for pleasure and material and her passivity are the main factors that lead to Carrie’s disillusion with the American Dream。 On the other hand, the formation of consumer culture result in Carrie’s unsatisfied desire for material。

    And today, with the rapid development of economic, China has entered a new stage where consumer culture has great influence on every aspect of our daily life。 In Sister Carrie, the characters are confronted the same situation。 Most of them regard material is the only pursuit while care little about their spiritual world。 This story has an essential realistic significance today。 We should be aware the negative effects of consumer culture and should not blindly pursue material interests。 Therefore, studying Dreiser’s novel Sister Carrie, on the one hand, can make contribute to the deep understanding of the novel, on the other hand, can help us alert the tragedy and have a better reflection on our present situation。来*自~优|尔^论:文+网www.youerw.com +QQ752018766*

Chapter II Carrie’s American dream

    American Dream is the dream of the whole country and the ideal of the whole nation。 It stresses that everyone can realize his dream to obtain final happiness and success as long as he works hard。 Generally speaking, it includes three parts。 Firstly, no matter you are male or female, no matter you are rich or poor, you have the equal chance to become rich and successful。 Secondly, whether you can become successful or not only depends on your diligence, talent as well as luck。 Thirdly, the process of realizing one’s dream is the process of an inpidual’s struggling with no regard of one’s family background and social background。 Therefore, American Dream has become deeply rooted in the heart of the Americans。 Everyone has a desire to lead a better life and they believe their American Dream can be realized。 Influenced by this phenomena, at that time, lots of writers ‘ literature works are related to American Dream, including Dreiser’s Sister Carrie。

    With the development of the society, the concept of American Dream has also changed a lot, especially during the late 19th century and early 20th century。 American industrialization started at the early 19th century and become mature after the civil war。 By the end of 19th century, America became one of the greatest countries in the world。 Due to the industrialization, American urbanization forwards rapidly which result in Chicago’s rapid development。 With the development of the industrialization, big cities needed plenty of labor force and can offer number of opportunities to younger generations。 As a result, thousands of young people were appealed to the big cities to pursue their American Dream。 However, by then, the concept of American Dream has changed。 Under the profound influence of consumer culture, all the Americans want to obtain is material possession。 And their desire is not only to become rich but to show off。 In a word, consumer culture has changed people’s concept of value and morals。 Under such circumstance, the American Dream was getting more elusive and was impossible to obtain。 In Dreiser’s novel, Carrie was one of those who try to catch the chance to realize her American Dream but finally failed。