Carrie Meeber leaves her home in rural Wisconsin for big-city life in Chicago, and faces a series of struggles -- professional, moral, and romantic -- before achieving success in the New York theater scene. THIS ENRICHED CLASSIC EDITION INCLUDES: A concise introduction that gives the reader important background information A chronology of the author's life and work A timeline of significant events that provides the book's historical context An outline of key themes and plot points to guide the reader's own interpretations ...
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Carrie Meeber leaves her home in rural Wisconsin for big-city life in Chicago, and faces a series of struggles -- professional, moral, and romantic -- before achieving success in the New York theater scene. THIS ENRICHED CLASSIC EDITION INCLUDES: A concise introduction that gives the reader important background information A chronology of the author's life and work A timeline of significant events that provides the book's historical context An outline of key themes and plot points to guide the reader's own interpretations Detailed explanatory notes Critical analysis, including contemporary and modern perspectives on the work Discussion questions to promote lively classroom and book group interaction A list of recommended related books and films to broaden the reader's experience
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Dreiser's insight and understanding of human behavior becomes the bones of this profound look at the social / political machine churning under Capitalism. Extraordinary, powerful, demanding, attitude altering.
ninthchord
Aug 17, 2010
Masterful
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this work--for me, the first time to read Dreiser besides one short story. I fond myself caring very much for Carrie (the poor lamb in the stone jungle) and wanting her to succeed. With her story, Dresier points out that success in Chicago or New York may mean alienation.
As for Hurstwood, as Carrie's star rockets, his fizzles out. The man, already in possession of the success that Carrie desires, seeks exactly what Carrie winds up losing, the affection of another. In seeking affection, he loses his family and his wealth.
Drouet, the typical dandy, escapes unscathed. Everything is appearance and show to him, and feelings are something one can don or discard.
Dreiser's only shortcoming is his tendency to become long-winded. He could have left out a few scenes that I found redundant.