Sister Carrie

Brief Overview

"Sister Carrie" is a novel by American author Theodore Dreiser, first published in 1900. The story follows the life journey of Carrie Meeber, a young woman from a small town who moves to Chicago in search of a better life. Upon arrival, with limited finances and no support, Carrie begins working in a store, but her ambitions and desire for a better life lead her to leave her job and enter into a relationship with a man named Charles Drouet, who promises her help and protection. Eventually, Carrie moves to New York with another man, George Hurstwood, who leaves his family for her. Life in New York turns out to be different from what they planned, and the relationship between Carrie and Hurstwood begins to deteriorate. Carrie finds herself needing to fight for her place in society and a career in theater, ultimately leading her to success. The novel explores themes of the American Dream, class differences, relationships between men and women, as well as questions of ambition, success, and personal choice.