ABSTRACT:Theodore Dreiser is a famous naturalistic writer in America, in his novel Sister Carrie, reflects some experience of his life and social backgrounds. At the same time, this thesis analyzes Sister Carrie’s consumption alienation. It applies Fromm’s consumption alienation theory to explain the formation of Sister Carrie’s personality, and the influence of consumption alienation to Sister Carrie. Under the influence of consumption alienation, people were far away from the true happiness, it just left people the endless pursuit of material and insatiable desires, because the real happiness was spiritual satisfaction, so the pursuit of material comforts could never give people the real happiness. Then reveal the causes, phenomenon and results of the consumption alienation and the influence to human’s nature of American capitalism at the end of 19th century and early 20th century through the analysis of Sister Carrie’s consumption alienation.

Key words: Sister Carrie; Consumption Alienation; Fromm

TABLE OF CONTENTS

摘要

ABSTRACT

1 INTRODUCTION-1

1.1 Theodore Dreiser-1

1.2 Sister Carrie-1

2 LITERATURE REVIEW-3

2.1 Studies Abroad-3

2.2 Studies at Home-4

2.3 Fromm’s Consumption Alienation Theory-6

3 THE ANALYSIS OF SISTER CARRIE’S CONSUMPTION ALIENATION-8

3.1 The Reasons of Consumption Alienation-8

3.1.1 Being attracted by the alienated consuming ideas at that time-8

3.1.2 Threatened by the indifference of human nature-9

3.2 Special Experiences of Consumption Alienation-10

3.2.1 The pursuit of grand apartments to enjoy herself-10

3.2.2 Being eager for luxury goods to show off-11

3.2.3 Seeking for high-level entertainment to satisfy the vanity-12

3.2.4 Being two men’s mistress to squeeze into upper class and display the superior social status-13

3.3 The Results of Sister Carrie’s Consumption Alienation-14

3.3.1 The influence on real and spiritual life-14

3.3.2 Rethinking about her life-16

4 CONCLUSION-17

REFERENCES-19

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS-20