The Incorporation Of Naturalism In Dreiser's American Tragedy And Sister Carrie

Naturalism is a literary movement that began in late nineteenth century used in literature, film, theatre, and art. It is a type of extreme realism. The movement suggested the roles of family, social conditions and environment factor in shaping one’s character. This movement demonstrates the consequences of real-world situations and proves that not every real situation will have a happy ending. Therefore, naturalistic writers write stories established on the idea that surroundings and environment governs one’s character. Naturalism implies that humans are pessimistic but use techniques in the story to convey that the way they act is objective and impartial.

Theodore Dreiser History

Theodore Dreiser was born on August 27, 1871, Terre Haute Indiana U.S. and he died December 28, 1945, Hollywood, California. He grew up in a poor Catholic family, one of ten children. His father was constantly unemployed. As one can imagine, Dreiser was introduced to the difference between the 'American Dream' and reality. He quickly understood the difficulty of mere survival.

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That very consciousness profoundly influenced his writing. He became an outstanding novelist and was a leading figure in the literary movement of naturalism, with an uncompromised presentation of real-life subject matter. His novels explore into depth of the new social problems that had rapidly arisen in the industrializing country of America in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

First Novel Summary - An American Tragedy

An American Tragedy is Dreiser’s best selling novel. It is about a young man named Clyde who experiences financial issues as he grows up.

He meets his wealthy uncle who is the owner of a factory. He begins to work in the factory and meets a young woman named Roberta. Roberta is a simple farm girl who Clyde amuses himself with. In reality, Clyde wants a chance with Sondra, the daughter of another wealthy factory owner. Sondra reciprocates Clyde’s interest only to make another man jealous. Clyde later finds out that Roberta is pregnant with his baby and she expects him to marry her. Meanwhile, Clyde is becoming increasing popular and liked among the wealthy upperclassmen revealing a chance to make Sondra his. Clyde attempts to convince Roberta to have an abortion but Roberta threatens to expose him if he doesn’t marry her. Clyde believes that if he murders Roberta, everything in his way of being with Sondra will vanish like the possibility of being exposed and the baby problem. Roberta dies along with her unborn baby when Clyde took her on a boat ride and hit her on the head as she then fell into the water and drowns since she is unable to swim. Clyde swims to shore and is arrested for the murder of Roberta. His mother makes desperate attempts to gather money to fight for her son’s life however she does not succeed. Now nothing will prevent the machinery of justice from taking over. The novel ends when Clyde suffers the death penalty on the electric chair.

How There Is Naturalism Incorporated In This Novel - An American Tragedy

Evidently, naturalism is displayed in multiple aspects of the novel. Clyde suffers financial problems within his own family resulting in him seeking work with a salary that will help him afford his needs and wants. Due to his deprivation of income growing up, he cannot bear to resist those with wealth surrounding him, especially the women. His situation with his poor family and the social conditions that he encounters combined have factored in his own character development as a person.

Second Novel Summary- Sister Carrie

Dreiser’s very first novel, Sister Carrie was a book that gave him the reputation as a naturalist barbarian for it was considered too illicit during that time period. The novel begins as the protagonist Carrie decides to take a train to Chicago and move in with her sister and her sister’s husband. On the way, she meets Drouet, a well dressed and mannered man. She struggles to find employment at first but then she lands a job at a shoe company but later finds that the salary is not enough to support her needs. Soon Carrie falls sick. Then she loses her job and is desperate for employment once again. Coincidentally she runs into Drouet and he gives her money which Carrie refused to take at first. The following day he buys her a whole new wardrobe. She decides to move out of her sister’s house and move into an apartment Drouet promised to rent for her. Drouet introduces Carrie to a man named Hurstwood, who is more wealthier and refined than him. The two of them get Carrie an acting gig which she performs very well. Hurstwood becomes infatuated with Carrie and kisses her when Drouet wasn’t around. Drouet finds out about Carrie’s unloyal behaviour and leaves her. Hurstwood divorces his wife and convinces Carrie to run away with him. After a while, Hurstwood is running short of money and is in desperate search of a new job. Carrie becomes increasingly successful as she is promoted to a lead role in a chorus line. Then she is given a speaking part and decides that Hurstwood is a burden and she abandons him leaving him to become a homeless beggar. Carrie soon becomes an overnight sensation and Drouet attempts to mend ties with her however she disregards him. The novel ends with Hurstwood committing suicide using methane in a hotel room one night.

How There Is Naturalism Incorporated In This Novel - Sister Carrie

In this particular book, Dreiser not only shows the natural character progression but as a bonus he models this character after his own real-life sister, making the realism of the character development even that much more significant and believable. Carrie becomes infatuated with wealth because she experienced financial struggles when she first came to Chicago. She didn’t accept Drouets money when he first offered it to her but as the story progressed, eventually, she started taking advantage of both Drouet and Hurstwood until she felt that they were of no use to her. Her social conditions factored to her character development and turned her into what she is at the end of the novel, a selfish and manipulative person who only cares about money. This is the reality of how society works. One’s life experiences majorly factor character development.

Theodore Dreiser’s Significance To The Movement Of Naturalism

Theodore Dreiser is significant to the Naturalism movement because he made a difference by making naturalism to be a trending topic in literature in the United States. He talked about topics in his literature that were not commonly or publicly talked about but were new social problems in America during that time period resulting in some of his novels becoming banned. He not only influenced naturalist writing but his work was so accepted that it was made into motion pictures. An American tragedy was released in 1931. He wrote about extreme realism at a time when America was evolving. Americans were ready to read about hardship and hope. These two books were published around the time of both world wars, during prohibition and advancement and the stock market crash. His writings depicted misery in characters of his books as similar feelings of misery existed at the time in real life. People wanted to read about lives that were just as miserable as theirs. As the theory calls it, naturalism.