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
Carrie “[ponders] over this situation as consistently as Hurstwood, once she got the facts adjusted in her mind.” She disdains poverty and desires a way out. Carrie also thinks of Ames and his ideas: “riches [are] not everything” as well as “the stage [is] good, and the literature she read poor.” The difference between Hurstwood and Ames is painful to Carrie.
This occasion marks the first instance where Carrie disdains not only poverty—she also disdains Hurstwood because he appears foolish next to Ames. Carrie begins to realize that in order to be recognized and distinguished by superior men like Ames, she must improve her mind.
Themes
During the last three months before his saloon closes, Hurstwood looks for jobs. Unfortunately, Hurstwood no longer has enough money to invest in a business. Furthermore, the newspapers “were announcing hardships, and there was a general feeling of hard times in the air.” Hurstwood begins to dwell on depressing items in the news, as “these things were like grey clouds hovering along the horizon of a clear day.” Hurstwood also begins to think about his wife and family—“he began to wonder what she was doing, how his children were getting along” in his absence. For Hurstwood, “it seemed only yesterday […] since he was comfortable and well-to-do.”
Hurstwood no longer resents his family back home. Indeed, the fact that he thinks of his family members in a familiar way shows that he misses his life back in Chicago. At this point in the novel, Hurstwood begins to realize that his life with his family in Chicago is superior to his life with Carrie in New York. In Chicago, he had no familial warmth, but he had wealth, distinction, and friends. Now that his relationship with Carrie is strained, he has nothing in New York either.
Themes
Hurstwood visits various places advertised in the papers. The first place looks “cheap” and he does not enter. The second place asks for $3,000 to buy a half interest, far beyond what Hurstwood can afford. The third place informs Hurstwood that they are no longer selling. Dejected, Hurstwood returns home.
Hurstwood’s pride forbids him from applying to common job openings—he still hopes to be the manager of some relatively nice saloon. His preference in jobs recalls Carrie’s preference to work as a shop girl in a fancy department store rather than a laborer in a dim factory. In both cases, the job seeker holds great expectations despite having little to recommend them for a good job.
Themes
Carrie finds Hurstwood disagreeable, as “he was not so handsome when gloomy.” At dinner, Carrie is frustrated by Hurstwood’s curtness and the two briefly argue. Hurstwood goes out downtown, leaving an angry Carrie at home. Carrie grows indifferent to Hurstwood. Her manner makes “friendly intercourse” impossible for him.
Carrie and Hurstwood have their first argument, showing that neither person plans to put up a pretense of an amicable relationship anymore. At this point in the novel, Carrie and Hurstwood no longer have any romantic feelings or affection for each other.
Themes
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The last day of work arrives for Hurstwood. He starts the day in good humor; however, Shaughnessy’s “coolly business-like” manner depresses Hurstwood. By dinnertime, Hurstwood is “in a solemn and reflective mood.” He tells Carrie that in order to start a business, he will “have to get something else and save up.”
Like Carrie, Hurstwood is easily affected by his surroundings—a cool word from an acquaintance can depress him. The fact that Hurstwood tells Carrie outright that they have to save indicates that he no longer cares what Carrie thinks of him—she is just someone whom he must live with.
Themes
For the next several days, Hurstwood sets out to look for jobs. However, he realizes that if he were to pay several hundred for a position, he would have nothing left for monthly expenses, as “it was costing him nearly eighty dollars a month to live.” Hurstwood begins to wonder what sort of job he can take.
Hurstwood realizes that his options are not as great as he had anticipated. In addition to having no money, he also has no friends or connections to help him out. Furthermore, Hurstwood’s initial ignorance about living expenses shows that he has not had to worry about his finances for a long time.
Themes
Despite his anxieties, Hurstwood still dresses well and his appearance is “still excellent.” This causes people to “[take] him for better off than he [is],” in a way that hinders his search. His fine appearance prohibits him from asking at an office in person. At one point, Hurstwood steps into a hotel for warmth from cold weather and feels ashamed that “he should come to this” and be one of the “chair-warmers.” He considers being a bartender but finds it too shameful for an “ex-manager.”
Hurstwood no longer feels the need to maintain his pride in front of Carrie; however, he still feels the need to maintain his pride in public. Consequently, he still dresses well. He is too prideful to dress in a way that reflects the reality of his situation. Furthermore, despite his narrowing options, Hurstwood is still too proud to work a less respectable job—he is not willing to compromise.
Themes
After Hurstwood returns home, Carrie informs him that rent is due. Hurstwood experiences “the first taste of paying out when nothing is coming in.” Hurstwood then escapes from his worries through reading the papers.
Hurstwood and Carrie have begun to live on savings—they no longer have an income. The fact that Hurstwood chooses to escape into reading rather than to plan show that, in a way, he has grown passive. He is no longer young enough to plan a whole new venture for his life.
Themes
