Abstract:Since its publication, there have been many critics commenting on Theodore Dreiser's masterpiece, Sister Carrie. Its main character, Sister Carrie, is a controversial character reflecting the typical features of the American middle class -- demanding to change their economic situation and social status and pursuing the personality liberation. 

　　　Different from the previous researches, this paper aims to analyse the factors that cause the tragedy of the heroine, Sister Carrie and discuss the true meaning of living in a metropolis. This paper includes four chapters, starting with a brief introduction of Theodore Dreiser, the novel Sister Carrie and the background knowledge of the Roaring Twenties and American Dream. In the second chapter, the paper analyses the pursuit and disillusionment of Carrie's American Dream. The causes of its disillusionment are discussed in the third chapter. In the end, the paper draws the conclusion that although American Dream looks so beautiful, it is just as vulnerable as the foam of soap. The seemingly luxury life in a metropolis is only an illusion. This paper triggers a deep thought about the meaning of life and the view of value, namely, how to live in this materialistic society without losing yourself.

Key Words: Sister Carrie; American Dream; morality; materialistic

中文摘要:德莱塞的代表作《嘉莉妹妹》自出版以来，引起了许多评论家的热议。作品的主角“嘉莉妹妹”是广受争议的角色。她反映了美国当时的中产阶级的典型特征--急切想要改变他们的经济状况和社会地位并追求个性的释放。

　　　有别于前人的研究，本论文旨在解读造成主角嘉莉妹妹的悲剧的原因并探讨在大都市生活的真正含义。本论文包含了四章。首先，介绍作者德莱塞，他的作品《嘉莉妹妹》及对美国“兴旺的20年代”和美国梦的背景介绍。第二章，分析了嘉莉对于美国梦的追求和幻灭。第三章，探讨了嘉莉的美国梦幻灭的原因。最后，总结出尽管美国梦看起来如此美好，但它就像肥皂泡一样容易破碎，看似奢华的大都市生活仅仅是一个幻觉。本论文触发了人们对生命观、价值观的深入思考，即如何在这个物欲横流的社会生存而不迷失自我。

关键词：《嘉莉妹妹》；美国梦；道德；物化