Sister Carrie Lesson Plan

How does Dreiser portray Hurstwood’s struggles to find work? Does it appear to be Hurstwood’s fault for his unemployment? How are his struggles similar or different to those of Carrie earlier in the novel?

To be sure, there are some similarities in the way that Dreiser describes the job hunts of Carrie and Hurstwood, but students should notice that the latter relies on his connections and the former had nothing. However, students should also note that Dreiser emphasizes the amount of time it takes to look for a job, a lot of labor that often pays out in nothing. These portrayals underscore the novel’s largely cynical opinion of free market capitalism.

Describe the...