Book Review: "Sister Carrie" by Theodore Dreiser

Theodor Dreiser is not someone I have explored many times, one or two perhaps and my writings on his book An American Tragedy was well-received. Since then, I have made it my business to read and reread more of his novels, including the often overlooked Sister Carrie. Once I started reading this book I absolutely could not stop. An enthralling story which often shocked me as it was written in a time where perhaps these stories of nonconforming women were still not taken seriously, it is a fantastic narrative even if the main character's morals are shifty at best. Carrie is definitely one of those characters we look forward to learning more about as she experiences more of the world. But, that doesn't mean we like her...

Carrie starts off taking a train from Wisconsin to Chicago to go and live with her sister Minnie and her husband, at this time she's eighteen years' old. She is often described as having a simplistic air of beauty about her and so, when she meets the travelling salesman Charles Drouet, this is very clearly what he is attracted to when he starts talking to her. Honestly, I quite liked the way Carrie is described as an 'unspoiled' woman because it definitely tells us more about the man who is attracted to it - a man whom perhaps the reader isn't too keen on but, we must press on. Carrie gives her contact information to the salesman and ultimately when Carrie gets to the home of her sister, discovering it is squalid and horrible - she tries to prevent Charles on calling on her there.

Carrie ends up getting a job. She runs a machine for shoemakers and hands over most of her pay to Minnie in order to cover the cost of her living in the home. She takes a sick day and is ultimately let go from her job even though the pay is honestly laughable in itself. It is around this time that she meets Charles again as well. It is at this point that he realises her position and tries to convince her to move in with him, whilst also handing her $20. I'm not going to lie, I was starting to like this Charles character after a while, I started to see him as a character who was willing to put himself in the way to get her out of danger and poor living conditions. But, I still didn't fully trust him - I just liked him more than the character I met on the train journey.

She tries to return the money, but he refuses and they go on a shopping trip before she moves in with him that same night. Carrie's appearance, mannerisms and living conditions improve dramatically over the course of her living time with Charles. Charles introduces her to a bar manager named George Hurstwood and she has almost become an entirely different person. Unfortunately enough for Charles, Hurstwood starts an affair with Carrie after becoming absolutely enamoured with her whilst Charles is away on business trips. I felt at this point that I was wrong about Charles and that in this case, Carrie was the mean and terrible one for cheating on him. But then again, Hurstwood is married with children and should have known better than to pursue her.

Once back in the picture, Charles tries to convince Carrie to take a part in a production and it turns out that she can actually act. The play is being put on by Augustin Daly and after the production, Daly takes Carrie off Charles' hands whilst Charles himself finds out some things that he probably doesn't want to know. A lot of things go wrong after this including Hurstwood stealing from the safe of the bar of which he is the manager, Charles finding out about the affair and confronting Carrie and Hurstwood's wife demanding a letter of rejection over a marriage proposal. Hurstwood eventually gets what he wants and moves to New York with Carrie whilst also still being married to his wife. I cannot help but think there are certain people in this book who are not as intelligent as we give them credit for. As things fall apart though, so do the people under the pressure of their own misgivings. Charles now, seems to be the only person who is not intentionally bad. Our minds have swapped their allegiances.

Hurstwood and Carrie change their last names to 'Wheeler' and live in rented living that is not nearly as nice as when Carrie was living with Charles. Through friends of which she is jealous, Carrie meets Robert Ames of Indiana. He begins teaching Carrie about art and how art changes the soul. We have to feel sorry a little for Robert Ames because he has really stepped in it, hasn't he. I remember thinking 'she definitely does not deserve this kind of kindness. Charles gave it to her and she threw it away.' It's nonsensical that the reader would still be on her side after all this time and all these ungrateful mistakes. As businesses fail and Carrie is forced to find work as a chorus girl, Hurstwood's savings disappear and deplete and ultimately, he is sick with apathy, depression and self-pity. Carrie moves in with a fellow chorus girl and, as for Hurstwood? Well, I guess you're going to have to read the book to see what becomes of that rotten polygamist, thief and adulterer. Carrie is still unhappy but, at least she's not Hurstwood.

As you can see, many of the people in this book really had what was coming to them. My opinion of Charles definitely shifted as he became the victim of some quite horrible events and was on the receiving end of Carrie basically taking advantage of his kindness. Hurstwood is a horrid man and got exactly what he deserved and I feel not an ounce of sympathy for him. All I can say about this book is that once you enter it, you may never leave. Though it is ultimately a book about the collapse of the American Dream, her odd morals and her wavering attitude towards them definitely makes me think twice before deciding on whether I feel for her. I know many people do feel sorry for her, but I probably feel around 30% of that since most of the problems stemmed from the fact she cheated on Charles when he was being so kind to her even though he didn't have to.