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The Quest for Haven in Sister Carrie
ZHANG Yi-wen
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DOI:10.17265/2159-5836/2024.05.001
School of Foreign Languages, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
This essay analyses Theodore Dreiser’s Sister Carrie through the lens of cultural studies, examining the portrayal of domesticity and the quest for an ideal home in late-nineteenth-century America. It explores the complex relationships between the main characters, Carrie and Hurstwood, and their families, as well as their struggles with materialism and alienation. Through close analysis of societal context, the characters’ familial backgrounds and emotional yearnings, the essay delves into the characters’ longing for stability and belonging and their journey toward understanding the true essence of dwelling amidst the changing urban landscape. It argues that Dreiser’s novel critiques the superficial pursuit of material comforts and highlights the importance of introspection and self-discovery in finding lasting happiness amidst societal turmoil. Ultimately, through the prism of domesticity, the essay delves into broader themes of identity, belonging, and existential fulfillment in a heartless society marked by materialism and alienation.
Theodore Dreiser, Sister Carrie, home, domesticity, belonging
Journal of Literature and Art Studies, May 2024, Vol. 14, No. 5, 315-324
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