A True American Tragedy An Analysis Of Causes Of Clyde's Tragedy

Theodore Dreiser is not only the first outstanding American writer in the 20^th century, but also the pioneer of modem American novel. He is regarded as one of the three giants of modern American novel, and the other two are Hemingway and Faulkner. Dreiser describes every aspects of American society and exposes ruthlessly the corruption of capitalist society through the naturalist way of writing.An American Tragedy is the masterpiece of Dreiser. Clyde, the protagonist of the novel, is from a poor family with low social status. He pursues money and high status, finally degenerates into a murderer and is executed to death by electric chair. Clyde's tragedy is not only the tragedy of an individual, but also the tragedy of America. While sympathizing with the self-destruction of Clyde, Dreiser discloses the darkness of the American society and the corruption of American politics, revealing the potential crisis covered by the false prosperity. In the opinion of Dreiser, it is the American society, rather than the murderer himself, shall be responsible for the murder case. At that time in the American society, the value that only the upper class people are accepted was prevailing. The novel describes the large gap between the rich and the poor and that how the Republican Party and the Democratic Party and the judicial system take advantage of the murder case to win the election.The thesis analyzes causes of Clyde's tragedy from two aspects as follows:Chapter One points out that the tragedy is the tragedy of an individual. Clyde is weak-minded, vain and self-centered. He is lack of morality. The weakness in his personality can not be ignored.After all, the tragedy is the tragedy of America. It is the particular environment of American society that results in the occurrence of the tragedy. As the main body of the thesis, the second part of the thesis analyzes the social causes of the tragedy from three aspects as follows:Chapter Three focuses on the cultural causes of Clyde's tragedy. The long-existing American Dream changes with the development of the society. The yearning for equality and freedom changed into the desire for money, power, pleasure and possession. The morality was forgotten by the Americans. In order to realize the American Dream and to obtain money and power, Clyde kills his girlfriend Roberta. The so-called American Dream turns into the American nightmare.The long-existing American Dream changes with the development of the society. The yearning for equality and freedom changed into the desire for money, power, pleasure and possession. The morality was forgotten by the Americans. In order to realize the American Dream and to obtain money and power, Clyde kills his girlfriend Roberta. The so-called American Dream turns into the American nightmare.Chapter Four focuses on the political causes of Clyde's tragedy. The murder case happens at the election. The candidates of both Republican Party and Democratic Party make use of the case to increase the possibility to win the election. The trial of the case is actually the American political and judicial system manipulated by the corruptive politicians and the wealthy and powerful capitalists. It is clear that the American politics exists to provide service for the capitalist class. It is the American political system that sends Clyde to the electric chair.As a conclusion, Clyde's tragedy is both the tragedy of an individual and the tragedy of the American society. Although there is weakness in Clyde's personality, through the above analysis, it is obvious that in essence, the tragedy of Clyde is a true American tragedy.