Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Sister Carrie, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Urban Life and Decay
Morality and Instinct
Wealth and Class
Summary
Analysis
Drouet is back in Chicago and spends some time with his secret society, the Freemasons, as another salesman he met during his trip told him that being “a way-up Mason” is something “that goes a long way.” A prominent member, Harry Quincel, asks Drouet to find a young lady to play a part in a fundraising play that the society plans to put on. The play in question is to be “Under the Gaslight.” Drouet agrees to find a young woman for the part of Laura but forgets “the moment Mr. Quincel [ceased] talking.”
Drouet is also a social climbing type: although not as brazen about it as Mrs. Hurstwood, he, too, desires to travel up the socioeconomic ladder. Drouet’s interaction with Quincel shows an innocent yet faulty side of his character. Drouet is always eager to please in the moment, as seen by his ready assent to help Quincel find an actress. However, he is also noncommittal—he immediately forgets about the request after leaving Quincel’s presence. This encounter recalls Drouet’s relationship with Carrie— he is always eager to please her in the moment, but cannot commit in the long term.
Themes
Soon after, a letter announcing the first rehearsal arrives and Drouet realizes he forgot to find a young woman to play Laura. He makes plans to ask someone but forgets again until he sees a note regarding the play in the newspaper. He asks Carrie to take the part over dinner. Carrie is insecure but drawn towards the position. After some convincing from Drouet, she agrees to play the part.
Drouet does not seem to consider Carrie’s feelings when asking her to play the part of Laura. He merely wants to fulfill his request to Quincel. This highlights the fact that though Drouet is kind, he can be quite inconsiderate and insensitive to others’ thoughts and feelings.
Themes
Little does Drouet know that Carrie has long been drawn to the idea of being an actress; she loves to repeat the lines of a “distressed heroine.” After hearing Drouet’s reassurance, Carrie “[feels] that she [can] do things if only she had a chance.” Carrie begins to imagine being an actress and loses herself in visions of the “luxury and refinement” that could await her.
Here, readers learn something completely new about Carrie: she is drawn to the idea of acting and theater. This reinforces the idea that Carrie wishes to be recognized and shine in front of an audience. Once again, Carrie falls to dreaming, just as she did while she was living with Minnie and Hanson. Carrie is young and her dreams are constantly evolving depending on new experiences. Still, one dream remains the same: Carrie wishes to live in luxury. Even in her fantasies about theater, Carrie imagines only “luxury and refinement.”
Themes
Drouet tells Quincel that he has found a young woman called Carrie Madenda to play Laura, as “the lodge members knew him to be single.” Quincel gives Drouet the part to give to Carrie. Drouet tells Carrie that he gave the lodge the name Carrie Madenda, something Carrie finds strange. Drouet explains that he gave such a name in case that she “didn’t make a hit,” and Carrie is “rather pleased now with his caution.” Drouet then relates that he didn’t want to introduce Carrie as his wife because then she’d “feel worse than if [she] didn’t go.” Carrie does not mind, only feeling “determined now to have a try at the fascinating game.” Drouet is glad that the two evaded the topic of marriage.
Drouet does not introduce Carrie as his wife to the lodge members, showing that he is unwilling to show himself as a taken man in front of the general public. Once again, readers can perceive Drouet’s noncommittal nature. Indeed, he is glad that the two no longer talk about marriage. Carrie is too innocent to realize Drouet’s purpose in giving her false name and readily accepts his excuse. Despite her interactions with Drouet and Hurstwood, Carrie is still ignorant when it comes to men.
Themes
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Carrie finds that the part of Laura is “one of suffering and tears.” She is surprised at the brevity of the part but concludes that she can play Laura. By the time Drouet visits the next night, Carrie already has the part memorized. She performs a certain scene for Drouet, “letting herself rise to a fine state of feeling.” Drouet is moved and exclaims that he “never knew [Carrie] could do anything like that.” He assures her that she “won’t fail.”
The fact that Carrie memorizes her part so quickly shows that contrary to what might have seemed earlier in the novel, Carrie is willing to work if the work is to her liking. Drouet, presumably a frequent visitor of theaters, finds Carrie’s performance mesmerizing. This indicates that Carrie indeed has potential to be a good actress.
Themes
