Criticism of Dreiser's "Sister Carrie"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses and reviews the article, "The Life History of Objects: The Naturalist Novel and the City," written by Phillip Fisher. The paper discusses the various perspectives that Fisher uses in his article to criticize Theodore Dreiser's novel, "Sister Carrie." The paper specifically discusses the arguments and reviews the method and research that Fisher uses in his article.

From the Paper:

"Fisher assumes the reader of his criticism is knowledgeable in various areas. To begin with, he assumes the reader is intelligible in the past reactions to theater. Rousseau's philosophy is also mentioned in this assumption. Fisher also assumes that the reader is familiar with Rousseau's philosophy of theater. Another assumption Fisher makes is that the reader is familiar with Darwinism. Fisher explains how the theory correlates, but the reader needs to be familiar with Darwin's theory."
"Fisher makes his arguments and quickly proves them with quotes or references to the novel. Correlating Rousseau's views to Dreiser's novel is the best example of how well Fisher makes his points. Fisher quotes Rousseau's speculations and compares Sister Carrie to many works of the 19th century. Since two sections were created, two main arguments are made. This categorization makes it easier for the reader to identify the main arguments and proof that Fisher presents."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Fisher, Philip. "The Life History of Objects: The Naturalist Novel and the City." Hard Facts: Setting and Form in the American Novel (l985): 162-78. Rpt. in Sister Carrie. Ed. Donald Pizer. New York: W. W. Norton & Co., 1991. 549-560.

More papers on Criticism of Dreiser's "Sister Carrie":

• Analytical Essay # 67337 : "Sister Carrie" by Theodore Dreiser"
• Book Review # 120179 : "The Path of Desire in Theodore Dreiser's" Sister Carrie"
• Book Review # 119745 : "A Criticism of Materialism in American Society"

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