MONEY, FAME, AND LONELINESS: THE CONCEPT OF PERSONAL HAPPINESS IN "SISTER CARRIE"

Abstract

This article explores the complex relationship between money, fame, and personal happiness in Theodore Dreiser’s novel Sister Carrie. The protagonist, Carrie Meeber, embarks on a journey from rural poverty to urban success, attaining material wealth and public recognition. However, despite her external achievements, Carrie is left emotionally unfulfilled, revealing the novel’s critical stance on the American Dream. Dreiser presents a naturalistic portrait of society where individual choices are shaped by social and economic forces. The study highlights how Sister Carrie reflects early 20th-century anxieties about modern life, consumerism, and the illusion of happiness.