Discourse On The Tragic Consciousness Of Dreiser's Novels

Theodore Dreiser is one of the pre-eminent American novelists in the 20th century. He breaks the traditional thought which plays the leading part in the American literary arena at that time, really reflects the dark side of the society life, reveals all types of the tragic consciousness to the readers, diligently develops the new literary style and makes the extraordinary contribution to the development of American literature. Therefore he is regarded as one of the greatest American novelists after the first world war by American critics.The present academic circles limits much to the subject of"American dream"and Dreiser's naturalism feature and his pessimism in his works,moreover the most of them are its single works commentary.Because of Dreiser's unique creation and the present research situation,my paper selects the angle of the tragic consciousness of Dreiser's novels to discuss his creation in the ways of the influence research and the clarification research.Introduction firstly gives a brief introduction to the"tragic"and"the tragic consciousness",then makes clear the purpose and perspective of the thesis: probing into the tragic consciousness in Dreiser's novels in the following aspects—the forming of the tragic consciousness in Dreiser's novels,the meaning of the tragic consciousness in his novels,the character feature of the tragic consciousness in Dreiser's novels,the culture feature of the tragic consciousness in his novels.Chapter One explores the reasons for the formation of the tragic consciousness in Dreiser's novels.There are three factors:the individual experience and social backgrounds,Schopenhauer's pessimism thought,Spencer's Agnosticism and Social Darwinism.Especially Schopenhauer and Spencer have a deep impact on Dreiser.Chapter Two analyzes the meaning of the tragic consciousness in Dreiser's novels and points out it is reflected by social tragedy,fatal tragedy and character tragedy. Social tragedy is the main type here. The human being's suffering originates from the limitation of human being's existence. The human being is limited but they pursue infinitude. This paradoxical situation leads to the tragic.Chapter Three discusses the character feature of the tragic consciousness in Dreiser's novels. There are all kinds of people in Dreiser's novels. He focuses on three types: the tragedy of the lower-class people who have dreams;the tragedy of the artist whose art genius loses;the tragedy of the superhuman finance giant.They struggle in their own ways but unavoidably trap in various disasters,just like the old saying says:"Flies can never escape the prey of spider web."Chapter Four explains the culture feature of the tragic consciousness in Dreiser's novels.There are two parts: Part One is the attitude against"the smiling realism". In the last 19th century,American literature is still under the rule of"the smiling realism". Dreiser breaks totally the traditional creative matters and innovates a kind of bold and social concerned novels in the American Literature.Part Two is the attitude against the popular consumption culture at that time.In the last 19th century and the early 20th century,the consumption culture prevails in America.We can find out from the novel theme of different periods, as to modern consumption culture , Dreiser has gone through an appreciation—suspected—criticized course.Based on the above analysis,"Conclusion"attempts to work out the social position and significance of Dreiser's tragic novels in the American literature.He thinks about human sufferings and mental dilemma,he is profoundly hurt by human mental emptiness and individual's anxious and calls for a loss of soul.He analyzes and criticizes the dehumanized capitalist society,explores and reveals mankind's spiritual dilemma between death and struggle,promise and its breaking,which makes his novels manifest the strongest tragic consciousness.