The mood of Sister Carrie—in line with its title—shifts and evolves in tandem with the protagonist's experiences. The emotional journey the reader undergoes mirrors Carrie’s journey and her struggles through the socio-economic realities of the time. Initially, the reader feels a palpable sense of anticipation and excitement. As Carrie steps into the urban labyrinth of Chicago, the narrative exudes the giddy thrill of new beginnings. At first, the city feels like a world brimming with untapped opportunities. However, this initial sense of hope and euphoria soon gives way to rising tensions and struggles, making readers feel an acute sense of frustration. As Carrie grapples with the harsh realities of urban life, from exploitative job markets to the superficiality of her newfound relationships, the reader can't help but feel the weight of the environment she's embedded in. The daunting challenge of surviving, let alone thriving, in the unforgiving urban maze quickly begins to feel impossible.
As the story unfolds, the mood grows increasingly serious and introspective, plunging readers into the depths of each character's psyche. Dreiser ensures that the narrative isn't one-dimensional through the narrator’s focus on Carrie’s two principal love interests, Drouet and Hurstfield. Every challenge faced by Carrie (and by extension, other characters) is dissected at length. This allows the reader to gain a multifaceted understanding of the human condition in the backdrop of urban industrial America. This introspection often skews towards hopelessness as circumstances become worse.
However, Dreiser does weave moments of hope amid the prevailing despair. There are scenes of emotional connection, excitement, and even joy as Carrie overcomes obstacles and experiences infatuation. These fleeting moments, however, are constantly overshadowed by the central conflict of the novel: the relentless tussle between money and integrity. As Carrie's journey unfolds, the reader is repeatedly compelled to hold up her financial and emotional gains against the erosion of her moral compass. By the time the novel ends, readers are left with a deep sense of disillusionment. It’s a stark reminder of the often steep price people paid for chasing the American dream in a world where society valued wealth over ethics and where opportunities for women were very limited.
