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
The play begins. Hurstwood and Drouet both notice that Carrie is not on stage and continue whispering in their box. The actors and actresses perform rather poorly. Hurstwood expected the performance to be “worthless” and looks on with “indifference,” only hoping to endure it so that he can congratulate Carrie afterward. By the time Carrie comes on stage, the play is “dull in the extreme.”
Both Drouet and Hurstwood are only attending the play for Carrie— neither man is interested in the production itself. The fact that Hurstwood expected the play to be “worthless” yet still invited all his friends shows that he cares for Carrie. However, his plan to endure the show for Carrie’s sake suggests that sees her as somewhat pathetic—not as his equal.
Themes
Both Hurstwood and Drouet notice that Carrie is nervous. During her first appearance, she performs with a feeble and monotonous voice and seems doomed to fail. Drouet looks away from Carrie, while Hurstwood feels sorry for her and stares at her “as if to hypnotise her into doing better.”
Inexperience gets the best of Carrie, as it did during her job search. The fact that Carrie is nervous shows that she thinks of the amateur production as a real chance to get started as an actress—she is too innocent to realize that her performance doesn’t matter much to anyone besides her.
Themes
Drouet remarks to Hurstwood that Carrie is “too nervous” and decides to visit her backstage. Drouet comforts Carrie, telling her not to be nervous. He lies that she didn’t “do so very bad” and “all [she] needs is a little more ginger.” The prompter then calls Carrie for her next appearance. Carrie is calmer during her next appearance, although still not up to the standard of her performance at rehearsal. She returns backstage to Drouet, who continues to encourage her up until the ballroom scene.
Despite all his shortcomings, it is undeniable that Drouet is kind to Carrie. He does not give any hint to Carrie that she has done poorly, giving only encouragement. Drouet’s words prove helpful to Carrie, as she returns to the stage feeling less nervous. Drouet cuts a paradoxical figure: he is, at once, both caring and clueless.
Themes
During the ballroom scene, Carrie “[begins] to feel the bitterness of the situation” her character is in and her performance drastically improves. She captures the attention of the audience, including Hurstwood, who “realise[s] he [is] seeing something extraordinarily good.” The first act of the play concludes and Hurstwood’s opinion of Carrie rises; he recognizes her beauty and is proud that she is associated with him.
Carrie’s true potential shows during one particular scene, and her talent astounds Hurstwood. This shows that Hurstwood had low expectations for Carrie as an artist—he was not prepared to see her perform well. For the first time in the novel, Hurstwood thinks of Carrie as more than a source of comfort. She has the potential to be an artist—something greater than a mistress.
Themes
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Hurstwood goes backstage to see Carrie. She is still with Drouet, “whose affection [is] also rapidly reviving.” Hurstwood feels jealous that Drouet can be intimate with Carrie in this important moment while Hurstwood can only “congratulate Carrie as a friend.” Carrie also wishes she could be alone with Hurstwood. After going back to his box, Hurstwood ruminates over “his wretched situation.”
For the first time in the novel, Hurstwood feels jealous of Drouet’s claim to Carrie. He is no longer content to keep the affair hidden—he wants to get rid of Drouet and have Carrie all to himself. For Hurstwood, jealousy is a compelling stimulant for passion—seeing Drouet and Carrie together deepens his desire for Carrie.
Themes
Literary Devices
In the second act, Carrie is “easily the centre of interest.” She never performs with as much feeling as she did at the end of the first act but still plays her part well. Both Hurstwood and Drouet’s feelings for Carrie rise. Toward the end of the last act, Hurstwood notices that her former conviction has returned. By the play’s conclusion, Hurstwood “[can] hardly restrain the tears for sorrow over the hopeless, pathetic, and yet dainty and appealing woman whom he loved.” Drouet decides that he will marry Carrie. Both men are “in the most harrowed state of affection.”
Carrie has solidified herself as the production’s star. Although she does not perform as well as during that particular scene again, her effect on Drouet and Hurstwood is irreversible. Carrie’s talent, more than anything else, compel the two men to commit to her: Hurstwood decides that he must have her to himself and Drouet decides that Carrie is worth marrying and settling down for. In other words, unbeknownst to themselves, Drouet and Hurstwood are attracted to the independent side of Carrie—and perhaps feel threatened by it.
Themes
After the play, Hurstwood puts a great deal of effort into restraining himself from showing affection to Carrie. Carrie realizes that the dynamic between her and the two men have changed: now she is “the admired, the sought-for,” rather than the one doing the admiring. The only intimate interaction between Carrie and Hurstwood is a brief squeeze of the hand, something that causes Hurstwood to be “beside himself with affection.” He whispers to Carrie to meet tomorrow, and “now [hates] Drouet” for keeping them apart. On the other hand, Drouet feels a renewed admiration for Carrie. She’s simply “the dandiest little girl on earth.”
Carrie gets the first taste of recognition that she has craved for so long—she now has the upper hand in her relationships with Hurstwood and Drouet. Indeed, where Hurstwood once manipulated her, Carrie is now in control of Hurstwood, who is completely infatuated with his young lover. Similarly, Drouet no longer views Carrie as simply his dependent and possession—she is someone who needs to be sought after and pursued. In the span of one night, Carrie’s dynamic with her lovers has completely changed.
Themes
