摘 要

《嘉莉妹妹》是美国文坛杰出的现实主义与自然主义作家西奥多.德莱赛最著名的小说之一，讲述了关于一个年轻的乡下女孩卡洛琳.米蓓尔，怀着对更美好生活的向往，离开贫穷的乡村，来到芝加哥追寻她的美国梦的故事。为了摆脱贫困，她与两个不同的男人产生不正当关系。出于一个很偶然的机会，她最后成为了一个成功的女演员，并且过上了她曾经一直渴望的奢侈生活。但是尽管已经变得有钱又成功，她发现她依旧没有得到真正的幸福。大量运用象征意象是这部小说的一个鲜明特色。本文将以嘉莉的崛起与赫斯特伍德的衰落为线索，分析服饰、剧院、金钱、报纸以及摇椅这五个和人物命运紧密关联的象征意象，进而探讨这些意象是如何突显小说主题和刻画人物形象的，最终展现象征主义手法独特而含蓄的美学价值。

关键词：《嘉莉妹妹》；西奥多.德莱赛；象征主义；人物命运

Contents

1. Introduction..............................................................................................................1

2. Demonstration..........................................................................................................3

2.1 A brief introduction to symbolism..........................................................................3

2.2 Symbols of Carrie’s rise.........................................................................................3

2.2.1 Symbolic meanings of Carrie’s clothing…...........................................................4

2.2.2 Symbolic meanings of Carrie’s theatre................................................................5

2.2.3 Symbolic meanings of Carrie’s rocking-chair.....................................................6

2.3 Symbols of Hurstwood’s fall..................................................................................7

2.3.1 Symbolic meanings of Hurstwood’s money........................................................8

2.3.2 Symbolic meanings of Hurstwood’s newspaper..................................................9

2.3.3 Symbolic meanings of Hurstwood’s rocking-chair............................................10

1. Conclusion..............................................................................................................11

Works Cited..................................................................................................................12

Bibliography.................................................................................................................13

A Brief Analysis of the Symbols in Sister Carrie

1. Introduction

Theodore Herman Albert Dreiser（1871-1945）was an American novelist and journalist of the naturalist school. He was one of the pioneers of American modern fictions. He created many great works in his life. His first novel, Sister Carrie, was published in 1900. An American Tragedy, published in 1925, was his first commercial success. Alhough known primarily as a novelist, Dreiser also wrote many short stories and poems. He was once nominated to the Noble Prize in Literature in 1930.

Sister Carrie is one of Dreiser’s best known works which tells a story about a young woman, Caroline Meeber, who is dissatisfied with her rural life and determines to go to big cities to chase her luxurious dream. On the train to Chicago, she meets Charles Drouet, a sophisticated salesman who impresses Carrie with his affluence. And Carrie also impresses Drouet with her beauty. At first, Carrie lives with her sister Minnie and Minnie’s husband. In order to pay rent to Minnie and her husband, Carrie finds a job running a machine in a shoe factory. The meager life and her pitiful wage don’t meet her expectations, which disappoint her greatly. When Carrie loses her job because of her illness, she meets Drouet again. Once again taken by Carrie’s beauty and moved by her poverty, Drouet persuades Carrie to leave her sister and move in with him. Unable to resist the temptation of Drouet’s wealth, Carrie agrees to become Drouet’s mistress and gets temporary happiness with him until Drouet introduces her to his friend George W. Hurstwood, a charming saloon manager who is more richer than Drouet. Also attracted by Carrie’s beauty and youth, Hurstwood hides the fact that he is married and falls in love with Carrie. After their affair is found out by Mrs. Hurstwood, Hurstwood gives up his family and embezzles a large amount of cash from the unlocked safe in the saloon’s office and elopes with Carrie. When they move to New York City, at first, Hurstwood buys a third interest in the stock of a saloon and is able to provide Carrie with a satisfactory life, but a few years later, Hurstwood's business partner terminates the partnership. Hurstwood is too arrogant and he refuses to accept most of the job opportunities that are available to him and he only lounges about day by day. Their savings are running out and in order to support their life in New York, Carrie turns to New York's theatres for employment and becomes a chorus girl. Carrie’s aptitude for theatre serves her well and she begins to rise from chorus girl to small speaking roles, while Hurstwood ages rapidly and his decline and depression gradually prompt Carrie to leave him. At last, Carrie rapidly rises to stardom, but Hurstwood ultimately becomes a beggar. Although Carrie achieves success and money, she finds that her longings are still not satisfied and nothing will bring her happiness.

Sister Carrie has been controversial ever since it is published, because in this novel, Dresier only presents his characters without making any judgment. Especially the heroine, Carrie, is engaged in affairs and other illicit sexual relationships without suffering any consequences. Dresier’s realistic depiction of the human condition goes against social and moral norms of the time and arouses numerous criticisms and scolding made by traditional critics. Malcolm Cowley wrote in The Slow Triumph of Sister Carrie: