Abstract: Dreiser is a writer of American naturalistic literature. He creates a new era of American literature with his naturalistic literary creation technique. The naturalistic literature absorbs the result of the evolution of the theory of heredity and environment determinism. From the naturalistic view, man’s fate is controlled by environmental and biological genetic factors. Dreiser carried forward the respected realism of literary naturalism in the creation, by depicting the true society and giving the readers a more profound and comprehensive understanding of the American, which is the significant progress of Dreiser’s novels. From the perspective of naturalism, this paper digs out the deeper implication of naturalism in Sister Carrie, and further explores the prominent characteristic of naturalism in American literature. 

Key words: naturalism; creation technique; environment determinism; biological genetic; American literature

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

1. Introduction-1

1.1 A Brief Introduction to Naturalism-1

1.2 A Brief Introduction to Sister Carrie-2

2.-The Embodiment of Environmental Determinism in Sister Carrie-3

2.1 The Influence of Family Environment-4

2.2 The Influence of Urban Environment-5

2.3 The Influence of Consumer Culture-7

3.-The Embodiment of Biological Determinism in Sister Carrie-9

3.1 The Endowed Gift Guaranteeing Carrie’s Success-10

3.2 Hurstwood’s Weakness by Nature-11

3.3 Drouet’s Keen Desire for Women-13

4.-Literature Effects of Naturalism in Sister Carrie-14

4.1 The Founder of Naturalism Writing in America-15

4.2 Further Development in Naturalism Writing-17

5.-Conclusion-18

References-19