Carrie's story starts off living in her sister's flat within the pits of Chicago. The only jobs she could find are hard, backbreaking professions and those that require experience. One day, she finds a difficult and unpleasing job working in a shoe factory where she earns for and a half-dollars a week. This, however, was not enough to satisfy even the bare requirements needed to live within the city.

As winter comes along, Carrie finds herself ill and loses her job. Yet all is not lost. She soon discovers Mr. Drouet, the gentleman she had met at the train station upon arrival to Chicago. At this point, Mr. Drouet has become fond of Carrie and offers her twenty dollars to buy new clothes. One evening, Drouet invites George Hurstwood, a high classed, well to do man, to a

Carrie served as a symbol of the American middle class. Carrie's visit to the department store shows her fascination with conspicuous consumption. Her desires for trinkets and fancy clothing captivate her even though she cannot afford any of them; thus a capitalist economy is shown which manipulates the desire of the consumer without ever completely satisfying them. Through this, Dreiser is able to show the weakness of mediocrity. He showed them as people who want things and become dissatisfied shortly after they get it.

Sister Carrie reflected the author's time period by describing the changing economic structures of American culture. It depicted the situation during the time of the economic boom in the late nineteenth century and exposed the social classes within the economy. Through the different characters and their roles, Dreiser showed how each class of society functioned and how they lived life under their ranks in society. Expression of such distinction between the classes also portrayed the differences between the men and women of his era.

Carrie feels at home in theater and loves the entire affair. Hurstwood continues to explain the absence of his wife by telling his friend that she is sick. This soon lead to a suspicion caused by Julia and the situation intensifies. One day, Julia realizes the affair going on between Hurstwood and Carrie. A divorce is set up and Julia demands money from Hurstwood. Hurstwood refuses and a suit is placed on Julia's behalf for divorce and alimony. Carrie also finds out about the situation and angrily leaves both Drouet and Hurstwood in search for a new life as an actress. Hurstwood, upon receiving Carries letter to leave, tries to win her back. He lies to her by saying Drouet is injured and asks her to board a train to see his condition. Hurstwood steals $10,000 from Fitzgerald and Moy, a high-classed saloon he was managing, and runs away with Carrie to New York. Thus, Hurstwood loses his job starts his downfall from rich to poor. Carrie, on the other hand, gets a singing career in New York primarily making $12 a week, then $16, then $20, then $35, and soon $150. Soon she comes to the conclusion that life without Hurstwood would be much better. She leaves him and pursuits her growing career of fame. Drouet find out about Carrie's fame and tries unsuccessfully to win her. Hurstwood becomes homeless and soon decides to commit suicide.

How did the author reflect his time period?

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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1649
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)