嘉莉妹妹中的自然主义
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《嘉莉妹妹》中的自然主义倾向浅析发表时间:2009-03-25T09:19:48.903Z 来源:《青年文学家》2009年第2期供稿作者:赵廷[导读] 《嘉莉妹妹》写于达尔文主义盛行时期,都直接来源于达尔文理论的进化论观点。
一.作品的创作背景《嘉莉妹妹》写于达尔文主义盛行时期,小说中的很多主题——斗争、生存和欲望,都直接来源于达尔文理论的进化论观点。
同时《嘉莉妹妹》创作于美国自然主义成熟时期——19世纪末期,美国自然主义受法国自然主义的影响,强调人的特质是由遗传决定的,行为受到社会和经济环境的支配,德莱塞在每一部作品中都充分体现了这种自然主义风格。
他充满坎坷的一生使他有机会观察社会的各个方面,从纸醉金迷的上层社会到饥寒交迫的底层社会。
二.《嘉莉妹妹》独特的自然主义作为一个自然主义小说家,德莱塞在他的大部分作品中都反映了自然主义特点。
达尔文主义和宿命论的主题以及他笨拙的语言风格是他小说的共同点,当然在《嘉莉妹妹》中也有体现。
但是,他又不断地挑战着传统的美国文学和信念,从而形成了《嘉莉妹妹》中独特的自然主义风格——理智、自由意志和本能之间的关系以及德莱塞的进化论道德观。
1.理智、自由意志和本能之间的关系在《嘉莉妹妹》中,德莱塞详细描述了理智、自由意志和本能之间的关系:当人的本能与理智发生冲突时,本能总是占上风;而自由意志总是徒劳的,服从于本能。
受达尔文主义的影响,德莱塞在《嘉莉妹妹》中展示了人的动物本能。
小说主人公嘉莉,18岁时怀着对大城市繁华生活的向往,登上了开往芝加哥的火车,并在火车上遇到了衣冠华丽的德鲁埃。
但是,迎接她的只有姐姐家的贫困潦倒,她不得不到一个鞋厂自谋生路。
之后,德鲁埃又提出要为她租一套房子,这对失去工作又无法在姐姐家继续住下去的嘉莉无疑是一个诱惑,她别无选择,只得委身于德鲁埃。
她的屈从说明社会和经济条件剥夺了她自由选择的意愿,因此,自由意志最终被本能战胜。
嘉莉的第二个情人赫斯特伍德也是一个缺乏理智的人,他受本能欲望的驱使,陷入情海,不能自拔,他为得到嘉莉所采取的每一个行动都是本能对理智的胜利。
摘要:19世纪后半期,自然主义者们写了许多带有自然主义倾向的优秀小说,德莱塞的《嘉莉妹妹》是美国自然主义小说的代表和巅峰之作。
从自然主义的概念出发,以自然主义的观点,对《嘉莉妹妹》这部作品的主要人物形象进行分析,旨在说明自然主义在《嘉莉妹妹》中是如何表现的,尤其是在小说女主人公嘉莉身上的体现。
关键词:嘉莉妹妹;道德;本能;自然主义西奥多·德莱塞(1871~1945)是20世纪美国杰出的现实主义作家。
他的第一部长篇小说《嘉莉妹妹》是美国文学史上一部具有划时代意义的优秀作品。
《嘉莉妹妹》讲述了一个聪明美丽、爱慕虚荣的农村姑娘到芝加哥谋生的艰难历程以及谋生后的不幸和悲惨遭遇。
在长期以来,众多评论家都把嘉莉妹妹看作一个在道德、行为等方面堕落放荡的女人,对她的道德大加斥责和批判,或将嘉莉的成功归咎为一种悲剧命运并分析造成这种悲剧的原因。
然而,本文从嘉莉妹妹自身的需要出发探讨她是如何从一个毫无地位可言的农家女利用自己的潜在价值生存在消费主义盛行的上流社会,即生存之原则。
一.漂亮的容颜———前提条件有人说:漂亮是女人值得骄傲的资本,美丽是女人值得炫耀的财富。
嘉莉之所以能比较容易地实现自己的愿望,其前提条件便是她拥有漂亮的容颜。
正是上天赋予嘉莉最珍贵的礼物,使她拥有了傲人的资本,并在其人生道路上掌握了主动权。
可以说从一开始嘉莉的天生丽质就为她带来了不可多得的机遇。
当嘉莉离开家乡前往芝加哥的时候,德莱塞这样写到:“当时她十八岁”、“长的相当秀美”、“楚楚动人的身段”、“她是美国中产阶级——从最初的移民里算起已有整整两代了——里绝顶漂亮少女的典范。
”这时她的美属于一种自然、纯洁的美,略显羞涩腼腆,不带一丝杂质,就像一块毫无瑕疵的洁白的玉石。
而正是这种矜持又不矫揉造作的美,让列车上的推销员德鲁埃“早已坐不住了”。
德鲁埃挣钱毫不费力,非常讲究衣饰打扮,而且对女性有强烈的欲望。
嘉莉面容姣好、妩媚动人,深深地吸引了德鲁埃。
Dresier’s Naturalism in Sister Carrie摘要:美国作家西奥多德莱赛被认为美国自然主义的杰出代表,本文以其第一部小说《嘉莉妹妹》为例分析德莱赛自然主义德一些特征。
论文从德莱赛创作嘉莉妹妹的历史文化背景出发,研究德莱赛在《嘉莉妹妹》中表现出来的自然主义。
论文涉及该小说的两大背景:一是达尔文主义和宿命论;二是美国自然主义。
同时分析自然主义的三大特点:欲望,本能和环境,人的本能欲望迫使人一直想往更高处走,动物的本能可能迫使人为了达到目的不择手段的使用各种计策,大的环境直接决定了这个人的命运以及他最后是否能够获得成功。
通过对这三方面德分析,最后得出结论:《嘉莉妹妹》一文中的主人公嘉莉在欲望的驱使下,使用各种手段最后虽然获得了成功,但是她最后却始终与孤独相伴。
同时本文还对自然主义存在的缺陷进行了批判,自然主义过分强调悲观主义决定论和人性兽性化。
这些倾向势必会影响到读者在阅读自然主义作品中对人性的分析和评价。
因此,读者应秉承凡事都有两面性的原则,对人性本善充满信心,看到人性中真善美的一面。
关键词自然主义;环境因素;遗传因素;欲望Abstract:Theodore Dreiser is regarded as an outstanding representative of American naturalism. In this thesis, Dreiser’s first novel Sister Carrie is taken as an example to analyze the features of Dreiser’s naturalism. The thesis referred to two great historical and cultural background of the novel which are Darwinism,Determinism. American Naturalism. Meanwhile the thesis analyzes three features of naturalism. At last, we can draw the conclusion that the leading character of the novel-Carrie’s destiny has a great connection with Dreiser himself and the decline of Hurstwood is a result of Dreiser’s fear of failure, but Dreiser attributes Carrie and Hurstwood’s unhappiness to their insatiable desire for life or they are doomed to be unhappy etc, and from which we can see Dreiser’s naturalism easily.At the same time, the paper criticize the shortcomings of naturalism. Naturalism pays too much attention to the determinism and human beast. These factors may cause effects on the reading of the readers. Therefore,readers should have an exact attitude in reading Sister Carrie.Key Words:Naturalism; Environment; Hereditary; DesireContentsⅠ. Introduction (1)Ⅱ.Environmental Factors for Carrie (5)2.1The Living Environmental Factors--the Lure of the Big City (5)2.2 The Social Environment Factors -the Lure of Love (6)2.3.The Work Environmental Factor--the lure of chances (7)Ⅲ.Hereditary Factors for Carrie (8)3.1A Gift of Beauty (9)3.2A Sentimental Hear (10)3.3An Endless Desire (11)Ⅳ.Critique for Sister Carrie (13)4.1Critique of Pessimistic Determinism (14)4.2Critique of the Concept of Human Beast (15)Ⅴ.Conclusion (17)Bibliography (19)Ⅰ.IntroductionAt the very beginning of the paper, it is of importance to introduce Sister Carrie. Sister Carrie is the first novel of Dresier, it was seemed as the beginning work of his naturalism. This novel takes the development of the industry of American city as the background, describes a story that a beautiful girl come to Chicago and the process that she succeed in the high level society. Dresier pays more attention to the influence of Carrie’s fate of environment factors and heredity factors. These two factors are the main features of Naturalism. Naturalism is evolved from realism and it is the outgrowth of realism. It appeared at the end of the 19th century, came from France. It was influenced by Charles Darwin theory of evolution. Human life was governed by the two crushing forces of heredity and environment, this ideal was picked up by writers in different countries. They held that realism was too genteel in tone to reveal the harsh reality. Then, they ushered a literary movement called Naturalism. The major features of naturalism is that determinism. The second one is that the universe is cold, godless, indifferent and hostile to human desires. Life becomes a struggle of survival. The last one is that naturalism is a harsher and extreme form of realism. The main figures of naturalism are Stephen Crane, Frank Norris and Theodore Dresier. Besides that, it is easy to understand that naturalism has many limitations. The purpose of this paper is to discuss Sister Carrie with critical eyes, criticizing pessimistic determinism and the concept of human beast as reflected in the novel.Except for the introduction and conclusion, this paper includes three chapters. The first and second chapter describe the obvious factors that decide Carrie’s fate: one is environmental factors, the other is heredity factors. The first chapter discusses that environmental factor have a great influence on Carrie’s life. It tells people that one man would success if she is in an advantageous environment. On the opposite, she will be fail in fate. This paper discusses three different environmental factors that include living environment, social environment and work environment. The reason why Carrie gets succeed in big city just becauseof these factors fit for her properly.Chapter two discusses the naturalistic heredity factors for Carrie. There is one famous principle for naturalism. That is, hereditary decides fate. Like Darwin’s evolution theory, one person will survive if he adapt for the environment, or he will be out. It is obvious that Carrie has many advantages, such as her appearance, her cleverness and so on. All of these factors make her adapt for the environment well. And she also has a desire for enjoying the life of the big city. And her success in the big city proves to readers that “only the fittest can be survived from natural selection.”Chapter three criticizes the naturalism’s limitations as reflected in Sister Carrie. Firstly, this paper criticizes the pessimistic determinism of naturalism. It believes that human being is helpless. They are all controlled by environment and heredity which they live in. Therefore, no matter how hard work they are, they still not change their fate.Because of these factors, human being should keep optimistic attitude in daily life. Secondly, this paper criticizes the naturalistic idea that human being as a beast-like creature, which regards human being as a combination of beast and human.The conclusion makes a summary and tells readers that the paper’s practical significance. Nowadays, with the development of market-oriented economy, many young women have the similar fate with Carrie. A lot of girls come to the big city from countryside, they may be lured by the prosperous city. In fact, people must keep a sober mind and be a independent woman. Everyone should believe in themselves and try one’s best to change the environment they live in. Therefore, everyone can be a new man, can be the master of their life.Ⅱ.Environmental Factors for CarrieOne of the most outstanding feature of naturalism is that the environment plays an important role on one’s fate. For example,Theodore Dresier has written another book—Jannie Gerhardt, which is seen as the sister of Sister Carrie. Dresier has been said that”all of us are more or less pawns. We are moved that like chessman by circumstance over which we have no control”. This sentence has always been regard as the center of naturalism. In another words, it emphasis on the determination of environment. A lot of famous books about the naturalism point out the negative effect of the environment on each person. For instance, in Stephen Crane’s The Red Badage of Courage, the novel presents character of low social and economic classes who were controlled by their environment and heredity. However, the novel not only shows readers the picture of Carrie’s down, but also shows the process of Carrie’s success. Chapter one mainly contribute to discussing how the environment factors play important role in Carrie’s success.2.1 The Living Environmental Factors--the Lure of the Big CityNaturalism pays more attention on people’s living environment, believing that one’s living environments influence one’s fate enormously.Carrie was born in a working family of a flour mill. She lived a poor life in her hometown. Her father was a worker worked in a flour factory. No matter what hard life she lived , she still had the hope for the luxurious life of the big city. At the same time, her sister resided in Chicago. Therefore, she made a decision to go to Chicago to get to a job in order to have a better life. Then, she left her mother and father, her hometown and went to Chicago. In Chicago, there were colorful theaters, supermarket and dancing room in this big city. The jewelers were shining and bright behind the glass. The business opportunity and wide rage of goods made the city be full of attraction. As Theodore Dresier described in the book:Its many and growing commercial opportunities gave it widespread fame, which made of it a gaint magut, drawing to itself from all quarters, the hopeless-those who had their fortune yet to make and those fortunes and affairs had reached a disastrous climax elsewhere.(Sister Carrie,1965:206-207)When Carrie arrived in Chicago, Mr.Drouet told her that Chicago was a wonder , and that she will find lots to see. Even her sister told her”You will want to see the city”. She come there, she come to the big web of Chicago in order to pursue a happy life. The prosperous parties , lights, dinners, theaters attracted her.When Carrie begun to look for a job, she found it is hard for her to get a job because all of the work ask for experience. In the meantime, she lived in her sister’s house that was not comfortable. She had to pay for her board and lodging expenses. After one week, she got a job which was very boring and hard. Although that,she can only got 4.5dollars one week and 90percent of the salary should be given to her sister. She walked to the factory to work. Her brother-in-law’s indifference had never change since she come. He only cared about if Carrie can pay for her fee in his family. In Dreiser’s work, Carrie just live in such an environment.Opposite to her hometown, Chicago is a prosperous city that is full of attraction. What makes Carrie indulge in are those beautiful cinemas, magnificent hotels, extravagant and comfortable restaurants. All those attractive things embody much luxury and richness of the city, which makes her pursue succeed in another aspect, for Carrie, only those prosperous metropolis are the most suitable habitable palace to live, because the luxury atmosphere satisfy her vanity and show her talent in drama. Therefore, some big cities, such as Chicago and New York,could offer Carrie a favorable environment to succeed.2.2 The Social Environment Factors -the Lure of LoveEnvironmental factors also include the influence which come from the character’s social relationships. Zola has pointed out that human beings are social animals, which are not independence from the outside and also can not be exist without others. Each individual exist in the society, which will influence ones in almost each aspect. Therefore, the social environment , such as one’s living environment, which play a decisive role in one’s fate. In another words, the social environment who was in will affect one’s value system, and stimulate one to pursuit one’s success.At the very beginning of the novel, Carrie left her hometown and come back to her sister who dwelt in Chicago. In Chicago, she lived in a cramped little apartment with her sister’s husband and her sisters. After several twists and turns, she had not get a job. Therefore,she made a decision to leave her sister’s house and to go for Drouet, she learned much knowledge about clothing and etiquette. All these knowledge helped her adapt the taste of this city. However, the persons who helped Carrie become fashionable not only because of her two lovers, but also because of two neighbors of her. Compared with Drouet and Hustwood, the neighbors and friends played more important roles on her. They inculcated Carrie to pursuit magnificent clothes and fortune, and made her cultivate a keen sense of touch and a elegant taste of fashion. For example, Mrs.hale, a neighbor she met in Chicago, helped her know how to appreciate fashion. All above these help her got to where she wants to go.2.3The Work Environmental Factor--the Lure of ChancesThe reason why Carrie can succeed in her career is that she has many chances which are unexpected. First, when Carrie took a train to Chicago, she met Drouet, a person that led her to a luxurious way. Second, when Carrie become the mistress of Drouet, Drouet introduced Hustwood to her, Of course, it was unexpected that Hustood fell love with Carrie at the first sight. The next Hustwood took many measure to let Carrie love him. Third, On occasion, Drouet had got a task to find a beautiful woman to play a drama. Naturally, he recommended Carrie to play the drama. From then on, Carrie’s ability of performance was showed to everyone. Especially in New York, Carrie mastered every chance to change her fate. She worked hard in order to perform the drama well. All her endeavor made her be a famous performer.Carrie is women who has strong ambition and her ability is also very strong. She is a county girl at first, She is clever so that she do not speak and observe how the person do in city. She observe the fashionable girl‘s appearance, their clothes, their speech. It is a exact thing that the appearance is an important thing in big city. After Drouet and Hustwood shelp, she choose the clothes that fit her well. Then Carrie become the symbol of all that is fresh, pure and beautiful, Carrie is so clever that she master every chance .The first chance she leave for her sister s family and go to Drouet’s department. She fells the city’s prosperous slightly. The second chance, she accept Hustwood’s love, she understood that only the people who has more knowledge can give her more colorful experience and life. This choice make her come to the center of the world---New York. The third chance is that leave Hustwood. Carrie leave Hustwood and choose to made his Broadway by herself.In fact, give up a person who you loved deeply is not an easy thing. Carrie maybe become a housewife if she does not leave Hustwood. Therefore Carrie is girl who know what she really want to have .Ⅲ.Hereditary Factors for CarrieHereditary Factors is another important factors of Naturalism. It is known to us that Naturalism is evolved from Darwin’s evolutionary. Therefore, it emphasis on the determination of naturalistic hereditary factors. In the novel, Dresier believes that Carrie s behavior is determined by arbitrarily and should not have a standard. On the basic of Darwin’s evolutionary, human beings are evolved from lower animals. There is not a god to judge who is wrong or right. One individual ’s fate is determined by heredity factors. Many authors have argued for the inevitability of man s competition from the premise that in the struggle for existence among animal species, only the fittest survive. Carrie’s beautiful appearance, her gift of performance, her desire of the better life, proves that she is a lucky dog of the society. Her success in big cities set out to people the marrow of Darwin’s evolutionary theory, that is, species develop from generation to generation by a process of natural selection .Zola has pointed out all the motivations of one’s actions can be traced back to one’s heredity, in The Experiment Novel. That is, for individual, heredity factors not only determine one’s temper and hobby,but also determine one’s achievement in one’s life.3.1 A Gift of BeautyFor women, especially for beautiful women, to become an actress is their biggest dream. In fact, actress is an occupation that almost each woman can not refused. Being an actress, Carrie can show her ability of performance to audience; Carrie can release herself on the stage; Carrie can enjoy herself through each play. As the saying goes,”A crow is never the writer for washing herself often.” It is referred to that all the factors lead her to the way of success, include beauty and rich feelings, are all from heredity.Firstly, Carrie’s beauty is one of the inevitable factors of her career as a player in the metropolis. Except for her sister’s husband, a man who is overthrew by pressure,almost each man she meet is greatly admired by her beauty. From the very beginning of the novel, Carrie met Drouet on the train. Drouet was allured by Carrie just because her beauty and then fell in love with Carrie at the first sight. He helped Carrie out of the dilemma at the next. Then Carrie become a clever girl in the city from a county girl. Of course, she had a success in the metropolis which paid more attention to one’s appearance just because her beauty. For instance, when Carrie had a chance to play a drama, the manager chose her although she had never accepted professional training of actress. If her appearance was common, even ugly, the manager was sure not choose her to play the drama. When Drouet introduced Carrie to Hustwood, Hustwood was attracted by Carrie’s beauty. He often visit Carrie when Drouet was not at home. He showed his love to Carrie and write many letters to express his deep love for Carrie. What attracted Hustwood most was Carrie’s beauty. Since loved Carrie, Hustwood lost patience of his family. When his lie exposed, he got into trouble that he dared that Carrie will not see him forever. He felt life was meaningless at once. All his thoughts and actions showed to readers that the importance of Carrie. When Hustwood want to leave for Chicago, he took Carrie with him.Carrie had a bigger stage to show her gift. Therefore, her beauty which was from heredity is the inevitable factors of Carrie’s success.3.2 A Sentimental HeartExcept for Carrie’s beauty, her rich emotion is another important factors of her way on the stage. As everyone knows, performance is an activity that the player should devote abundant emotion to the drama.T here is no doubt that Carrie is a girl who was born with emotional heart. Her imitation ability shows her perfectly. It is very important that a good actor should have a emotional heart. Only have a emotional heart, can a actor play the play well. If Carrie does not have a emotional heart, she can not act the role vividly. Of course, she will not chose by the big boss,and she also can not become a famous actress.When Carrie saw Drouet at first time, she knew that she was a common girl came from country so that there was nothing important what she desired. The experience of feeling in finding a job hit her deeply. She realized that if she becomes a graceful lady, she will integrate into society quickly. At this time, her gift began to guide her keeping up with the fashionable pioneer who around her. For example, she began to imitate how the neighbors dress up, how to walk, how to make up and so on. She improved her understanding of fashion by studying these details. Later, her outstanding imitation caught the eyeball of the drama theater manager and the audience successfully. Her ability laid a foundation for a famous actress and a model.For an actress, imitation is not enough. In the novel, Carrie is shaped into a sensitive woman who is easy to be moved and a woman who is full of fantasy. Thus, if her nature is cultivated slightly, her splendid career of drama will be accomplished. For Carrie, her success bases not only on her imitation of beauty in the play. What more important is that her perception of beauty in daily life. Exactly, the bridge between this two abilities is her rich imagination.As mentioned in this novel, the first time when Carrie had the opportunity to act Rola on the stage,she felt excited. And these complicated and painful emotion is exactly what Laura felt after her experience. Carrie’s rich imagination made her put herself into the experience of the Roller. Then she finished her first performance in AveryHall.3.3 An Endless DesireIn sister Carrie’s creation, Dresier put human instinct desire in it. In social life at that time,people’s desire lead Carrie walk a way of struggle for herself. As mentioned in the novel:It was in August, 1889. She was eighteen years of age, bright, timid, and full of the illusions of ignorance and youth. Whatever touch of regret at parting characterised her thoughts, it was certainly not for advantages now being given up. A gush of tears at her mother's farewell kiss, a touch in her throat when the cars clacked by the flour mill where her father worked by the day, a pathetic sigh as the familiar green environs of the village passed in review, and the threads which bound her so lightly to girlhood and home were irretrievably broken.(Sister Carrie,1965:103-107)To be sure there was always the next station, where one might descend and return. There was the great city, bound more closely by these very trains which came up daily. ”In such a materialistic city, it makes person’s desire bigger and bigger. Person may give up anything in order to satisfy one’s desire.In Sister Carrie, Dresier incisively and vividly shows the desires driven by different people. The description shows that different people have different attitude and they suffered the different fate.At first, Carrie wanted to get a job in Chicago. As a girl come from country, she had not many requirements. After she found a job, she thought the job was so boring and made her tired. Then she chose to become the mistress of Drouet. After Drouet introduced Hustwood to her, she believed that Hustwood would give her a better life. When she lived a life she wanted to live at first, she began to look forward to a better life. She become a famous actress. People’s desire is inherited, endless. This is also one of the reasons why Carrie have a success finally.Ⅳ.Critique for Sister CarrieNowadays, naturalism is always criticized by writers both at home and abroad. In China, many critics pointed out that there are many limitations on naturalism. For example,they believe that the naturalistic writers have many shortcomings in the creation of the work.”He was a photographer for the phenomenon, but it was purely an investigation of his eyes”. There are the imitator of the phenomena, not the creator of the phenomena. In another word, their works are all records of things happened in the world without any identifying and screening. Not to mention the creativity and depth of the phenomena. The naturalistic writers were influenced by Darwin’s evolutionary theory, so they show the positive attitude in their works obviously. Furthermore, they emphasis on the concept of human beast. In the following paper, taking Sister Carrie as an example, aiming at revealing the limitations of naturalism from these two aspects.4.1Critique of Pessimistic DeterminismFrom the pessimistic fatalism view of naturalism writers, human beings can only live in a contradiction of life environment and natural heredity. Their fates decided by environment and inheritance hopelessly. No matter how hard she is, she can not change and escape his own fate. Influenced by above pessimistic theory, figures on naturalism works almost are unlucky and style of writing is also pessimistic.For Sister Carrie, when she become brilliant actress, for a moment, she feels satisfy,because she believes that her happiness is not coming yet, she go ahead forced by the desire of wealth and reputation.The naturalists tend to depict the dark side of the society, and always take the low classes as their heroes or heroins. Compare to the realism and romanticism, they have a more pessimistic view toward the society. In Sister Carrie, it reveal that man can not control themselves, and is at the mercy of the nature, the heredity, the society and instinct. From thevery beginning of the novel, Carrie respond to live together with Drouet in order to live a better life and then leave Hustwood, she become a very famous actress in New York, she can be a actress in the Broadway Stage, she become a girl in the upper ten, she finally live a life that she ever want to live, she become a man that she ever want to be, but she still did not happy. On the opposite, she feels lonely and hopelessly. We have to say that Carrie has not find her real love in life. No matter Drouet or Hustwood, they are all the tools that help Carrie live a better life. In this level, Carrie’s love was a failure. In her career, she did not get satisfaction from her work, instead she feels emptiness in spirit. As described in the last sentence of the novel”In your rocking-chair, by your window dreaming, shall you long, alone. In your rocking chair, by your window, shall you dream such happiness as you may never feel.”Her name is Carrie. Dresier give the name of the character also has a figurative meaning.carried from the sea. Her fate has already been doomed by her name.Drsier’s pessimistic determinism give an tragedy end to Carrie. In fact, not only Carrie, Hustwood the most tragic one. he is sophisticated , easy going demeanor, tongda fickle, but he has obvious character with professional modification.the tragedy of him seems that began when he and Carrie siphoned with money to New York .But in fact, his failure is due to its failure of the adventure of unknown life. In the novel, Carrie’s rise and Hustwood’s decline is the most striking contrast. In this comparison, it can be said that the tragedy of Carrie had a deeper color, also shows the readers Hustwood’s fate more tragic.This is the center of the naturalism. In Dresier’s work, Carrie and her partners must be have an tragic end. What I have obtained from this novel is that everyone has the power to change his fate. By studying Carrie’s fate, people have to accept the fact that environmental and heredity factors are significant in one’s fate, that is, the favorable environmental and hereditary factors are indispensable in one’s success, although the disadvantageous environmental and heredity factors will impede one’s development. However, man has the characteristic of self -worth and self-reliance,he is full of energy and hope in his fate. Besides, man hasthe right to double his efforts to improve the life and pursue his career in face of the relentless reality. That means man can still wield his determination to solve those adverse factors and change his fate. There are many examples in our realistic life that man can still wield his free will to master his fate. For example, many great writers have become successful men through their efforts and the disabled have challenged the adverse environment factors and become worthful members of our society. All these illustrate that we can conquer the adverse environmental factors and become worthful members of our society. All these illustrate that we ca conquer that adverse environmental and heredity defections. Therefore, people should be active and optimistic in our life and double our efforts to live a better future.4.2 Critique of the Concept of Human BeastBased on influence of Darwinism naturalism works are dedicated in exploring beast and human and take human as a kind of mixture and applicated, taking human society as ramifucation of nature and the essence of man is to the survival of the fittest. The work is to become victim of strangers who adjust to the world and qualified to live. Though sister Carrie was born with sensibility, her every decision was made under the rational judgment, not only under the emotional demand. For example, when crowed in a narrow apartment with her sister’s family, facing poor condition, accepts ugly Drouet’s help and has a comfortable life; while when Hustwood traps her to elope, she does not go immediately, but say goodbye to her past with the thought that she wants to broaden her eyesight to New York. Although both of man offer her rich life and enjoying it much. She will go away and continue her life as soon as another road appears. When Carrie and Hustwood come to New York.Hustwood lost his reputation, his career and become a frustrated man. In this case, Carrie make a decision to leave Hustwood otherwise she will become a housewife. she continue her career and become a famous actress. The man who Carrie stay with are all tools to the way of success. Just like Drouet does not treat Carrie sincerely, Carrie also does not pay her true heart to Drouet. They are both entranced by others one aspect of features. On one hand, Carrie was entranced by Drouet。
The Analysis of Naturalism in Sister CarrieAbstract:Sister Carrie is one of the classics of naturalism. It was the first successful novel of American naturalistic writer Theodore Dreiser. This paper explains the meaning of naturalism, analyzes the naturalism writing style in Sister Carrie. It includes two major aspects: naturalism writing style in environmental determinism and biological evolutionism.Keyword: Dreiser, Sister Carrie, naturalism, environmental determinism, biological evolutionism Sister Carrie is the first novel of American naturalistic writer Theodore Dreiser in the 20th century. The novel portrayed images of Carrie and Drouet and so on. The novel fully embodied Dreiser's naturalism morality and life view.一.NaturalismNaturalism was originally a concept of classical philosophy. It was used to point out all forms of materialism, hedonism and secularism. In the early nineteenth century, with the rapid development of natural science and naturalism's connections to it, naturalism lost some derogatory senses and obtained a new kind of respect. Apart from applying in philosophy and science, naturalism was also applied in fine arts and then was introduced into field of literature. It was representative by Flaubert, Turner and Zola.Art critics Turner thought moral science was like natural science. It should be study in a similar way. We should treat all schools of literature equally and be objective to them. Following after Turner, Zola became the summarize and advocator of naturalism theory. Zola thought, the previous realistic works did not fully fit the demand of modern art and she made up her mind to use new theory to tamp it. Respecting the fact and literature was the base of this theory. Zola boiled the characteristic of naturalistic novel down to a point. That was valuing life correctly and getting rid of all elements of novelized character.Naturalist literature originated in France during the 1960s and then flourished. In 1990s, the trend of naturalist spread to American literature. Compared with European countries, naturalism's development in America was more closely connected with its social and economic reform. Naturalism had aroused widespread attention in America.Naturalistic works' writing feature consists in a richness of detail, like real-time objective description. Dreiser used these techniques to become a successful representative naturalistic writer. Naturalistic writers thought human traits was determined by inheritance and their behavior were governed by social and economic conditions. Dreiser's naturalism showed mainly that his protagonist was entirely governed by environment, inheritance and physiology, especially chemistry that involuntarily sinking to the abyss of evil in instinctive efforts. Therefore, men can not be responsible for their own mistakes or failures. Sympathetically disposing towards losers was one major feature in Dreiser's naturalism.二.Naturalistic writing style in Sister CarrieSister Carrie was written at a time when Darwinism prevailed. Many themes of the novel, like struggle, survival and desire, all came directly out of Darwinism's evolutionary perspective. In the meantime,Sister Carrie also was written in American naturalism mature stage--the end of 19th century. American naturalism was influenced by French naturalism. They emphasized human traits was determined inheritance and human behavior was governed by social and economic conditions. Dreiser fully revealed the naturalism style in Sister Carrie. He perfectly revealed the different mentality that different people had and different fate they had. And he explored the impacts of desire and environment on individual fate. These all were filled with ultra morals and survival of the fittest. Dreiser's life was full of ups and downs. So he had a chance to observe the every aspectof social, from the luxury and dissipation life to hungry and cold life.1.naturalistic writing style based on environmental determinismIn Sister Carrie, Dreiser emphatically depicted the profound impact of many different environments on Carrie. He thought Carrie's all ups and downs were caused by environment. Carrie was not a natural dissolute woman. The temptations of the big city and financial pressure let her unconsciously go downhill. Carrie was born into a poor family. But when she was 18 years old, she was long for the life of the big city because of surrounding's influence. She wanted to go to Chicago to have a new life. So she went to Chicago which she had never been to alone.She would like to rely on her sister for living a big city's life she wanted. However, less money and brother-in-law's coldness left her no choice but to look for work. After a series of failures, she finally found a job in shoe factory. But the winter get her into trouble. And even worse, Carrie lost her job because of getting ill. Her sister let her back to home in the countryside. When she hesitated, she came across salesman Drouet whom she met on the train. Forced by poverty and tempted by material, Carrie accepted his help and agreed to live with him. She became Drouet's mistress. He made Carrie enjoy the city's civilization. However, Carrie found Drouet was not as good as she thought. With the help of Mrs. Hale, Carrie contacted more socialites and saw the upper class's luxury. She did not satisfied with the life Drouet provided. Hotel manager Hurstwood's appearance provided a choice met her new desire. So Carrie abandoned Drouet and fell into Hurstwood's arms. She followed him to New York. Carrie became the capture of big city. Environment forced her into a road that pursued money and success. This was bound to be the result of outside word's power. However, ruthless reality devastated Carrie's fantasy again. Hurstwood's job suffered a setback and huge living expenses landed them in hot water. For edging herself into the best society, Carrie had to join in show business. And at last she leaped into fame. From beginning to end, Carrie was passive and pushed around by environment. That resulted in author had a misunderstanding to Carrie's degradation.2.Naturalistic writing style based on biological evolutionismIn novel, Dreiser thought Carrie's behavior could be judged with "the arbitrariness of standard". That meant you could judge her behavior at will without fixed moral standard. According to evolutionism of Darwinism, human beings evolved from low-level animals. The Gold who could judge between right and wrong did not exist.According to the traditional virtues, men should be kind-hearted and women should be chaste. Carrie was a lascivious, degraded and immoral woman. However, author did not agree with this traditional ethics moral view. He thought it limited man's nature and desire. Carrie was successively committed to two men, which could not use traditional moral values to judge. Because it was an inevitable result of outside influence. The passion for better life was not evil. If man wanted to have better life, he should abandon traditional morality. This standard formed Dreiser's evolutionism moral values.Dreiser applied biological competition theory to expound philosophical thought about social issue. When author described the fate of Hurstwood, he applied the law of jungle at their mightiest. When Hurstwood was a combination of power and money, Carrie became his mistress. Nevertheless, when he was down and out, Carrie's career rapidly went up. The distance between them became greater. At last they had to break up.On the thought, Dreiser was firmly influenced by Darwinian's theory of evolution. He firmly believed law of survival of the fittest. So he thought naturalism was a useful tool for people's survival and development. Survival was the first principle. Therefore, under cruel reality, Carrie had to rely on pragmatism to get rid of poor living conditions. The result was Carrie's moral sensegradually lost. On the other hand, in Dreiser's view, morality was just a habit rather than their deep belief. If man did not have the habit, the impact on themselves was not be seen.三.ConclusionIn novel Sister Carrie, Dreiser inherited Zola's naturalism. He applied naturalistic writing technique to discuss the impact of desire and environment on the fate of individual, especially people who lived in the bottom of society. In the novel's field, he had broken the tradition of conservative and elegant in Victorian. And he opened up a whole new world towards fidelity, daring and passion. And then he brought a revolution for American literary circle. 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