Sister Carrie

Style and Technique

Theodore Dreiser's "Sister Carrie" is a prose work executed in a naturalistic style, characterized by detailed, often documentary-like depictions of reality. Dreiser aims to show life as it is, without embellishments or illusions, meticulously describing the psychology of characters, their inner world, and social living conditions. The author employs objective narration, immersing the reader in the atmosphere of early 20th-century America, exploring themes of social mobility, the pursuit of success, and emancipation. The book critiques the American Dream, illustrating how external circumstances and chance affect the fates of the characters. The narrative structure is linear, with events unfolding sequentially, allowing the reader to gradually delve into the life story of the protagonist, tracking her moral and social development.