论美国悲剧中萝贝塔的悲剧性

　　Abstract
　　ApioneerofnaturalisminAmericanliterature，TheodoreDreiserequallydeservesaplaceinAmericanliteratureforhisvigorousattackonthegenteeltraditionandhislongandactiveinterestinAmericansocialproblem。ShowingthereadersanactualAmericansocietythatismaintainedwithmoneyworship，hedonism，inpidualism，hisworksmakethereaderssosufferingandsoastonishedthatsomereaderscouldhardlybear。Inthispaper，abriefintroductionisgiventoDreiser’slifeandthecriticalstoryofAnAmericanTragedy，andthenthecausesofRoberta’stragedyareanalyzed。Throughanalysistherealoriginofthetragedyisexposedtobetheevilcapitalistsocialsystem，andRoberta’stragedyisalsotheAmericanfemales’tragedy。
　　KeyWords
　　TheodoreDreiser；tragedy；Roberta；Clyde；AmericanDream。
　　摘要
　　美国自然主义作家西奥多8226；德莱塞，以其锋利的笔锋，向读者描绘了美国社会的种种问题，抨击了美国社会高雅面纱下围绕金钱而产生的种种丑恶现象。其作品以其史无前例的大胆写实为美国文学在现实主义协作的发展开辟了道路，也为作家在美国文学界乃至世界文学界赢得了极高的荣誉。本文通过介绍作者的生平，以及对《美国悲剧》这部小说中的人物萝贝塔的悲剧成因进行分析，说明在美国拜金主义，享乐主义和个人主义盛行的社会里，人在本能和社会环境的驱使下不免地要往上爬，追求物质上的满足，实现心中的梦。但在美国的社会环境下，结果往往是悲剧的。萝贝塔的悲剧，不仅是她个人的悲剧，也是美国众多女性的悲剧的写照。
　　关键词
　　西奥多8226；德莱塞；悲剧；萝贝塔；克莱德；美国梦。
　　Introduction
　　Dreiser，whoisveryfamousfortheprincipalAmericanexponentsofliterarynaturalism，isoneofthemostinfluentialauthorsinAmericanliteraryhistoryduringthe20thcentury。Asagreatnaturalisticwriter，Dreiserdoesnotforgetthebasicprincipleofnaturalism。Itiseasytofindthatthemancharacters’personalityinAmericanTragedyisasexualathleteandamanofelementalforcewhorisestoadominantpositioninbusinessandsocietyledbyRoberta’stragedy。ItexpressesthedepthsympathyinhisnovelstoRobertaandClyde，whicharedrawingpeople’sattentions，sothenovelisregardedasthegreatestnovelinAmericanliterary。
　　AmericanTragedybasedonanactualcasetellsthestoryofasocialtragedy，inwhichatinysuccessfulyoungmankilledhislover，sentencedtodeathatlast。ThenovelhighlycriticizestheAmericalegalsystemandexpressesthecourseofthetragedy。Amongallthecommentsonthecausesofthetragedy，CharlesWalcutlA。Waltonlitz，specificallymakesananalysisaboutthecausesofthetragedy。Hisideaisuniqueandprofoundforustostudy。AmericanDreammakesmanyyoungpeoplelosetheirdirectionevenlives。
　　MostoftheresearchesonAmericanTragedyareprofound，andmanytheorieshavereasonedonthecausesofRoberta’stragedythatAmericanDreamandAmericancapitalistsocialsystemaretherealoriginofthetragedy。
　　Roberta’sdeathstimulatesresearcherstostudythecauseoftragedy。Atthesametime，thenovelarousespeople’sattentionoffeminism。In18thcentury，feminismwasnotpopular，andmanywomenhadnoequalrights。ThroughanalysisofRobertastragedy，wecangetmoreknowledgeoffemaleinthesociety。
　　。TheAuthorandtheNovel
　　AABriefIntroductiontoTheodoreDreiser
　　TheodoreDreiserwasborninTerreHaute，Indiana。HewastheveryfirstimportantAmericanauthorofnonEnglishstock，althoughUnitedStateshadalreadymorethanhalfpopulationoflaterimmigrantandtheirchildren。HisfatherwasaGermanimmigrant，andwasmostlyunemployedmillworker。So，hischildhoodwasmarkedwithpoverty。Hisfatherhadpreviouslybeenacottonmillandwasburneddown。Duringthereconstruction，hewashitintheheadwithabeam。Heneverfullyrecoveredandasaresulthebecamedeeplyreligious。Soonhisbusinesspartnerscheatedhim。ThefamilywasperennialpoorforcedfrequentlytomovebetweensmallIndianatownsandChicagoinsearchoflowerlivingcostsinordertosurvive。Hismotherwasagentleandcompassionatewoman。ShehadCzechMennonitebackground。Thoughthefamily’sexperienceofdeprivation，hespokeandwroteofhismotherwithunswervingaffection。。
　　B。ABriefIntroductionofanAmericanTragedy
　　AnAmericanTragedytellsaboutatragicstory。Thestorywasbasedonapopularmurdercase。Inthestory，Clydewasalesssuccessfulyoungman，drivenbythedesireforsexandmoneytomurderhislover，andhedidthatinordertomarrywealth。Finally，hewasconvictedandexecutedtodeath。Whateverofsocialandspirit，hewasvictim。Fromthebook，Dreiserexpressedadegreeofcriticalandcommercialsuccess。
　　Therearethreebooksinthenovel。Inthefirstbook，theauthordescribesClyde’slifeinKansas。Hewasborninapoormissionaryfamily；ClydeGriffithslivedapovertystrickenlifesincehischildhood。HealwayshadtosinghymnofpraiseinAmericanstreeteverydaywithhisfamily。Ashegrewup，hewasmoreandmoretiredofandevenhatedsinginghymnofpraiseinthestreetwithhisfamily，andhewassosensitivethathealwaysfeltthattheauditorswerelookingdownuponthem。Inaword，hispoorfamilymadehimpainful。Sooncehehadgrownoldenoughtomakemoney，hethrewawaythatlifestyle。Sinceathissixteen，hefirstlyworkedasanapprenticeinadrugstore。Beforelong，hesuccessfullyfoundabetterjobinGreenDavidsonHotel，thegreatesthotelinKansas，whereheworkedasabellboyandearnedabout25aweek。InGreenDavidson，hewasdeeplyimpressedbythestrikingcontrastbetweenRichandPoor，andheavidlywantedtoriseintothisAmericanupperclassthatseemedtoofferhimtheonlyhopeofselfrealizations。
　　AsheearnedandlearntmoreinGreenDavidson，hebegantodrink，playcardsandgotobrothel，andhemadeaveryvaingirlfriend，Hortense。Inordertocurryfavorwithhertofulfillhisdesireandtoparadehiswealthtohisfriends，hecheatedhisfamilythatheearnedquitealittlemoney，thushecouldspendasmuchmoneyashecouldonHortenseandhimself。What’smore，hissisterwasdiscardedbyamanandwasalreadypregnant。Evenwhenhismotherandhissister，Esta，wereinneedofhisfinancialaid，hestillrefusedtohelpthem，andinsteadheleftthefiftydollarstobuyafurcoatofbeaverforHortense。Clyde，thepooryoungman，becamemoreandmoregreedyandselfishandlesskindinthesurroundingsoftheplotGreenDavidson。Later，onthewaybacktoworkfromatravelforfun，heandhisfriendranoveragirlwiththecarwhichoneofhisfriendsstolefromhisfather’semployer。Toevadethepunishment，hefledtoChicagolonely。
　　BookTwoisthekeypartofthenovel，whichnarratestheprocessofhowClydeclimbeduptotheupperclassandkilledhispregnantlover，Roberta。AfterhefledtoChicago，heenteredhisuncle’sfactoryandbeggedSamuelGriffithstogivehimajobintheGriffithsCollarCompanyofLycurgus。Laterhewenttohisuncle’sfactoryandsoonheworkedastheheadofadepartmentwhichhad25girls。Then，Clydeappearedimportantandprosperous。Becausehiscousinhatedhim，frustrationandembarrassmentencounteredfrequentlywithashortspaceandtime。Hissnobbishrelativessoonforgothim。Anxiousforpromotion，anddesirousofhappinessimbuedwithzealforselfsatisfaction，hefellinlovewithayoungandbeautifulworkinggirl，RobertaAlden，whowasemployedinhisdepartment。Afteratimeofoglingandflirting，theirrelationshipbecameintimate。Astomarriage，healwaysdreamedtomarrywitharichyoungbeautifulgirltoclimbupupperstatus。SoheneverthoughtofmarringRoberta。Thekindgirldidnotknowthethought。ClydeassociatedwithRobertainordertospendhisspacetime。Hisdreamwastobecomeapersonofbetterstatusandenteredupperclass。Underhisblandishment，soonafterhehadsexwithRoberta，andmadeherpregnant。Beforelong，hemetafriendofhiscousin，SondraFinchley，byaccident，andhewasdeeplyattractedbyher。Then，hemadeSondrafellinlovewithhimgradually。ThankstoSondra’shelp，Clydefrequentlytookpartinallkindsofparties。Itmadehimfeelthatwasabeautifulwayoflifelikehisimagination，andsoonheforgethisgirlfriendRoberta。SondrawasthedaughteroftheowneroftheFinchleyElectronicCompany。ComparedtoSondra，Robertawasjustapoorworkinggirl，adaughterofapoorfarmer，andcouldnothelphimtojointheluxuriousparty。So，fromthebeginning，ClydewasnotgoingtomarryRoberta，justwantedtomakelovewithheralthoughhereallylovedher。However，astoSondra，healwaysdreamedtomarryher，andthenhecouldenjoytheluxuriouslifethatSondrahad。HealwaysdreamedthatifhecouldmarrySondra，hewouldbethemanageroftheFinchleyElectronicCompanysoon。InordertoavoidmarryingRobertaandfulfillhisdreamofmarryingSondra，ClydeplannedtokillRobertaintheGrassLake。Butinthecriticalmoment，hewashesitating。Dramatically，Robertawasdrownedinanaccident。
　　InBookThree，itnarratestheprocessthatClyde’smurdercasewasjudgedandhewasinprisonandatlasthewassentencedtodeath。Itwastheverystateelectiontimewhenthecasehappened。TheDemocracyandtheRepublicanismmadeuseofthecaseastheylikeregardlessoftheexactfacttopromoteattentioninordertogetthetrustofthevotesandwintheelection。TheDemocracythattookchargeoftheadministrationatthattimetriedeverymeanstotestifyClyde’scrime；theyevenconcoctedfalseevidencestotestifyClyde’scrimesassoonaspossibletodefraudtrustofvoters。WhiletheRepublicanismtriedeverywaytoexonerateforClyde。Intheuglystruggle，Clydeactedlikeachessman，althoughhewastheonedirectlyinvolved。Heevendidnotknowwhatwasgoingonearth。Theuglystrugglebetweenthetooparties，andthen，Clydewassentencedtodeathmorequickly。Thus，afterovertwoyearsinprison，Clydewasmadedeadinanelectricchairintheprison。Hislifewasoverattheageof25。
　　。AnalysisofRobertasTragedy
　　A。Roberta’sDestiny
　　RobertaAldenwasadaughterofTitusAlden，afarmerofnearBlitz，whichwasasmalltowninMimicoCountry，somefiftymilesnorth。Thefatherofherfatherwasalsoafarmer。Herfatherwasalsoanunsuccessfulpersonatfortyeight。Hewasstilllivinginaveryoldandmuchinneedofrepairhousewhichheinheritedfromhisfather。Fromheryouthupshehasseenlittlebutpoverty。Robertawasacontemptuousanddamagingnobody。Shewasverybeautifulandcharmingandbecausetheeducationshewasderived，shewasgoodandkind。ButRobertahadsomevanity。Ithadworldlinessandselfishmotivesinherlove。Atthesametime，becauseofawarm，imaginativeandsensuoustemperament，shewasfilledwithgooddreamofgoodfortuneaboutfuture。Shewasalwaysthinkingofsomethingbetter。Withthesegooddreams，onceshehadgrownoldenough，sheleftherfamilyforthecitytolookforgoodluck。Withherfriend’shelp，shewenttoGriffithsCompanywhereshemetClydeGriffiths。Oncetheymeteachother，theyweredeeplyattractedbyeachother，andtheyfellinlovewitheachothersoon。BecauseClydealwaysdressednicelyandhewasquitehandsome，andpolitetothegirl，themostimportant，hewasthecousinofGriffith’sfamily，therichownerofthefactory。Monthsafter，theyfellinlovewitheachother。BecausesherefusedClyde’slureandthreatening，RobertahadsexwithClyde。ClydeneverthoughtofmarryingRobertaforhethoughthewassuperiortoRobertaandherpoorfamily。Later，byaccidentClydemetSondraagainandhesuccessfullymadefriendswithher。Thenwiththehelpofherandherfriends，Clydegraduallyclimbeduptotheupperclasssocietyandbecamesuccessfulinthesociety。AshisfriendshipwithSondrabecamelovedship，hedesiredtomarrySondrathroughmarriage。Hedreamedtosharetheluxuriousandcomfortablelifewithher。HewantedtodesiretodesertRobertasothathecanmarrySondra。Thedesirewasstrongerandstronger。Andthen，hebecameapathytoRoberta。Robertadidnotknowwhyhisattitudebecamesoapathyandstrange。Becauseshewasinsomuchlovingwithhimthatshewasafraidoflosinghim，shewasveryobedienttohimanddidnotdaretocomplainanything。Latershedidnotwanttotolerate，andbelievedthatClydewasnolongerloverher，soshedecidedtoleavehim，andlethimfree。Butatthattime，shefoundthatshewaspregnant。Withoutanyexperiencesandrelatedknowledge，bothofthemwereveryworriedandscared。Theytriedeverywaytogetridofthepregnancy。Theytookmedicine，pleadeddoctorforhelp，buteffortsdidnotworkfortheyhadnotenoughmoney。Withoutanyotherwaytosolvetheproblem，RobertapleadedClydetomarryher，butClydewantedtomarrySondraforbetterandricherlife。Heprotractedtoagreeagainandagain。WorryingoflosingSondraandhisreputationinLycurgus，hepretendedtoagree，butinhismind，hewasplanningtokillRoberta。
　　So，cheatinghertohaveamarriagetravelandelopewithher，ClydecarriedonhismurderplantheywenttoGrassLake。KnowingnothingaboutClyde’splan，RobertawashappytohavethetravelwithClyde；andsheevenwishedthataftertheymarried，orafterthebabywasborn，Clydemightloveherandthebabyagain。Then，theycouldhaveahappylifetogether。WhenClydewasstrugglinginhismindwhethertokillherornot，hisfacelookedpaleandverybad。KindRobertatookitassomethingwrongwithhim。Robertawasveryfoolish。
　　Withoutanyintentionbutthecamerawasstillunconsciouslypushedherwithsomuchvehemenceasnotonlytostrikeherlipsandnoseandchin，butalsotothrowherbacksidewisetowardtheleftwalewhichcausedtheboattocareentowater。SerriedbyRoberta’ssharpscreen，Clyderoseandreachedhalftoassistorrecaptureherandtoapologizefortheunintendedblow。Theybothwereasinstantlythrownintothewater。RegardingitasagoodwaytogetridofRobertaforitseemedlikeanaccident，ClydeignoredRoberta’scryingforhelp。HewasjustlookingasidewhileRobertawasdrowning。
　　Roberta’stragedycouldbeascribedtoherself。Shewasverynaiveandeasytobelievesomeoneelse。Roberta’sdreamwasestablishedonthelovethatshecouldtogetherwithClyde。Shehadnotthinkingindependently。Thiswasherdefect。Inheropinion，herfeelingchangedwithClyde。WhenClydewasangrywithherrequestofgotoherhome，shewasafraidthatClydehatedherandnolongerlovedher。So，sheobeyedClydesmeaning，nolongerrequiringhim。RobertathoughtthatClydewashergod。WhateverClydewantedtodo，shewoulddoherbesttosatisfyhim。Andthen，herpersonalitycausedhertragedy。
　　B。theAnalysisofRoberta’sTragedyontheExternalCauses
　　RobertaHerselfWasPartlyBlamedforHerTragedy。ItseemsunfairforRobertatobeblamedforhertragedy，butshereallyshouldbe。Althoughborninapoorfarmfamily，Robertawasverycharmingandquiteclever。Shedeservedtohavebetterlife。Sinceherchildhood，shewasdreamingtoconqueramantohaveabetterlifethatwasdifferentfromherfarmlife。Withthisgooddream，sheevencouldnotinsistonherrefusalforClyde’spursuit。ShehadalreadylostsomethingguidedbythedreamofbetteringherselfbymarryingClyde。SheevendarednotinsistonherrefusingforClyde’sunreasonablerequirement，eventhoughsheknewthatshewasinthewayofdangerandmaybeeveninthewayofdestruction。So，inhertragedy，shewaspartlyblamed。InAmericansociety，theboundarybetweenthepoorandrichwasveryclear。Itwasimpossibleforthepoorpeopletoentertheupperclass。Justbecauseofherunrealisticdream，shewasfinallypregnanteasilyandlostherlife。Robertawaseventoldthatthemanoftherichfamilywasnotkeepingtheirwords，butshecouldnotresistClyde’ssweettalk。Inaword，shewasveryfoolish。SheshouldkeepherselffromhavingsexwithClydeandgettingpregnant。Becauseofhervanityandunrealisticdream，thetragedyhappened。
　　ClydeGriffithsShouldHaveTakentheMajorresponsibilityforRoberta’stragedy。First，ClydeluredRobertatohavesexwithhimwhileheneverthoughtofmarryingher；justduetoitRobertabecamepregnant，whichbecamethedirectcauseofthetragedy。
　　Second，becauseofhisselfishness，whenRobertawaspregnant，herefusedtogowithRobertatogethertothedoctor’sforhelp。Atlast，todisengagehimselffromRoberta，heevenplannedtokillher。Althoughhedidnotcarryonhisplanatthecriticalmoment，hedidnotgiveahandtoRobertaintheaccidentwhenRobertawasincriticaldangerandneededhelpverymuch。ItwashisverycoldnessandselfishnessthatcausedRobertastragedy。Clydewasintheinterestofrealizinghiswealthandrankthendreamedtokillhislover。Hismentalitywasdistortedbythesocialdesire。Heshouldbesentencedtodeath。
　　C。TheOriginalCausesoftheTragedy
　　AlthoughRobertaherselfandClydeshouldbeblamedforhertragedy，inthefinalanalysis，theoriginalcausesofRobertastragedyaretheevilcapitalistsocialsystem。WhydidbothRobertaandClydehavetheunrealisticdreamandevenlosetheirlivesforthedream？Tofindouttheanswerforthesequestions，wehavetomentiontheprevalentcultureandtheAmericansociety。
　　Roberta’stragedywasverygreatimportantsignificant。ItshowedintruehistorythatAmericansocietyruinedtheyouthpeople。AsweknowinAmericansocietyatthattime，theinpidualism，moneyworshipandAmericanDreamwereveryprevalentinAmerica。TheAmericanDreamwasbasedontheassumptionthateachperson，nomatterwhathisoriginsare，couldsucceedinlifeinthesolebasicofhisorherownskillandeffort。Itdescribesanattitudeofthehopeandfaiththatlooksforwardtothefulfillmentofthehumanwishesanddesire。（David。F。Trask，1900。）
　　Includingsuchfeatureassobriety，diligenceandequalrightsselfgovernmentandliberty，thepuritansfaithhadcultivatedsomanyfamousfiguresinitshistoryandpromotedthemtothequintessentialpoint。Itwasthefaiththatfacilitatedthewayofselfreliance。Fortifiedoftheseprinciples，themmigratedtoPhiladelphiatobegintheircareerfirstintheprintingtradeandeventuallybecamealeadingcitizenthere。Thereisaexample，thatisastoryofhisupwardclimbbecameanAmericanfolkloreofsuccess。Thoughapoorboyatthebeginning，hemadegreatsuccesseventually。TheriseofFranklintoamanofconsequencebecameaninspirationtoyoungmenwhoaspiredtogreat。（TangSooPing，1980）AnAmericanTragedywasaprofoundworkofthecriticismtheAmericanDream。AmericanDreamhadcomeintobeingforalongtime，atthebeginningofAmericanfounding；manypersonsbelievedthateveryonecouldgetchanceofhappinessintraditionalclass’snewcountry。SincePuritanismcouldhelpsomanypoorpuritanstosurviveandsucceedinpracticingthedoctrines。Puritanslayout；itwouldbeinevitablyadmiredandobeyedbypeoplewhowantedtobeselfmade，greatnessandsuccess。Andselfmade，greatandsuccessfulshouldbethemainideaoftheAmericandream。
　　Cominginto20thcentury，theindustryachievedverygreatsuccess，andthegoodswereproducedinmass。ThecontentofAmericandreamhadalittlechanged。Althoughthedreamofgreatness，wealthandsuccesshadnotchangedyet，thedesireofconsumingasmuchaspossiblehadtakenplaceofthesobriety。Theyounggenerationpaidmoreattentiontothepracticeandthecomfortableevenluxuriousmateriallife，whilemoreneglectingthetraditionalvirtueanddogmathanthegenerationoftheirparentsdid。TheconsumingcultureandthehedonismprevailedoverthewholeAmericaninthe20thcentury。Insuchsurrounding，leadbytheseideas，theyounggenerationcouldnothelppursuitmoney，richmateriallifeandthesex。
　　ThedesireformoneyandsuccesscanbeseeneverywhereinAmericanTragedy。ThemostofguiltlesstragedypersonwasRoberta；themosttypicalisClydeGriffiths。Tofulfillhisdesireforbeautifulclothes，sexandmateriallife，ClydelefthisfamilytoworkinGreenDavidson，wenttohisunclesfactory，pursuedHotense，RobertaandSondra。ItwasthetemptdesireforSondraandherwealththatmadeClydewanttokillRobertatoavoidmarryingher。ItwasthesametoRoberta。Forcedbytheyearningforthewealthtoimproveherstatus，RobertaleftherfamilyforLycurgus，NewYork，forgoodluck。ThereasonwhyshefellinlovewithClydeatfirstsightandthenhadsexwithhimwithoutmarriagewascomplicated。ShethoughtClydewasthenephewofSamuelGriffiths；hemightberichandcouldbringherwealthandbetterstatus。FromthecontextAnAmericanTragedy，wecanseethis：
　　Andthenonedayshortlythereafter，GilbertGriffithswalkingthroughhereandstoppingtotalktoClyde，shewasledtoimaginebythisthatClydewasreallymuchmoreofafiguresociallyandfinanciallythanshehadpreviouslythought
　　Herecomesmr。gilbertgriffiths。Hisfatherownsthiswholefactoryandwhenhedies，hewillgetit，theysay。Andheishiscousin。
　　Whensheknewthis，herfirstresponseis：
　　Isherich，too？
　　Whensheknewthat：
　　Heonlycameonherealittlewhileagotolearnthebusiness。Maybehewontworkheremuchlonger。
　　Shewassuddenlytroubledbythislastremark。Shehadnotbeenthinking，orsoshehadbeentryingtotellherself，ofClydeinanyromanticway，andyetthoughtthathemightsuddenlygoatanymoment，nevertobeseenbyheranymore，disturbedhernow（Dreiser，1965，）
　　Fromabovecontext，wecansaythatitisbecauseoftheverydreamingofbetteringherselfandimprovinghersocialstatusandincreasingherwealthinthefuture。SoRobertaallowedherselftofallinlovewithClydeandhadtheintimaterelationshipwithClyde。Andfinally，itturnedouttobeadream。。
　　Moneyworship，hedonism，inpidualismandthedesireforunrealisticdelusionarefillingtheworld。Livinginsuchworld，theyouthcouldnotgettherightguidanceandeducation，ledbytheHoratioAlgermyth，theAmericanyouthareapttodestroythemselves。ThefalseconceptandcultureinAmericansocietyaretheoriginalcausesofRobertastragedy。
　　D。TheAnalysisofRobertasTragedyonFeminism
　　AnAmericanTragedywassucceedinginthehistoryliterature。Theauthorevensaidthatthenovel’ssuccesswasnotatragedy，butitwastheAmericanTragedy。ThenovelexpressedstronglycomplainsthroughClydesAmericanDreamandthefemale’stragedy。Itrevealedhumblewomen’stragedy。Thefeminismwasanewword。Inthe18c，feminismwasgrownupfromthewest。Thefeminismwasbasedonthewestbourgeoisdemocraticandbrokeoutlargerscale。Thefeminismwasapoliticsmovementofthewayofemancipatingthewomen。
　　Roberthadnoenoughbravenesstoaccepthermistaken；shewantedtorequireClydetosharethemistaken。Obviously，shewasatragicperson。Feminismcalledonwomentolookforanewwayoflife，gotreleasefromthechainsociety。InAmericanTragedy，Robertajustwasalackselfconfidencegirl，herdestinydecidedhertragedy，andherselfwasblamedforhertragedy。Shecouldnotrefusethelureofsexandenjoyment，AmericanDreamaffectedher，too。ThelifestyleofhedonismhadenteredeveryAmericanmind。
　　RobertaoftenleftherworktodisportwithClyde。Inhermind；shewantedthoughtthemarriagetoreachhergoal。Feminism’sgistwasselfconfidenceandimpendent，throughoneselfefforttogetsuccess。Inthenovel，itemphasizedRobertasstupidityandirresoluteinpiduality。Aftershewaspregnant，shefeltveryafraidandhadnoanyideatosolvethecase。Sheneverthoughttogivebirthforherchildandbegannewlife，thiswashertragedy。Noveldescribesthatpeoplethoughtwasruinedintheirspritworld，sothatledthetragedytohappen。
　　Conclusion
　　Naturalismisthebriefwritingstylethatmanisshapedofhereditaryandenvironmentforcebeyondhiscontrol。Inparticular，naturalismisthebriefthatman’sinnersenseofwillingnesstowardagoodortowardanevilisanillusionmerely。（Donld，2003，）Thus，forthenaturalistitmakesnopraisetheaction，theyareonlydoingwhatcomesnaturallytothem。
　　Asanovelist，TheodoreDreiserwasthesortofnaturalistwhofeltanextraordinaryneedtoexplainthings，torepresenthischaractersmotivesandactionsascogentaspossible。Heofferedmanyinstancesscientificallybasedexplanationsoftheirdeterminism，andevencorrectedpopularmisconceptionsastothecauseandsignificancesofhumanendeavor。AnAmericanTragedytendedtoemphasizethatfemaleshouldbeindependentandcouldnotreplyonmen。Womenarenotaccessories，butdominatepositionsinthesociety。Ifafemaleistooweakinmind，shewouldbecomeatragedyinthesociety。Hertragedydestinedtohappenatthattime。
　　InAmericanTragedy，TheodoreDreiserportrayedhischaractersClydeandRoberta。Whatevertheylike，inAmericancapitalist，theydiditwhattheywereforcedanything，justpersuadewhatisinsightintheirmind。Theirtragedyisnotveryspecial；itistheAmericanscommontragedy。AsRobertaisjustoneofthetypicalinstancesofsuchfemaletragedy，wecanfindalotofproblemsexistingintheAmericanfemales。RobertastragedyisalsotheAmericanfemalestragedy。
　　Thenovelshowsthegreatestattractiveforovertheworld。AlthoughtherearemanycriticismsaboutDreiserandhisnovelAmericanTragedy，itcannotdenythefactthatthecelebratedinfluencespreadnotonlyAmericanliteraturebutalsoallovertheworld。
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