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Dusina N.V., Zotova L.I., Abanina T.S. [Reflection of destructive public influence in the novel by Theodore Dreiser «American tragedy»] World of Science. Series: Sociology, Philology, Cultural Studies, 2023, Vol. 14, No. 2. Available at: https://sfk-mn.ru/PDF/37FLSK223.pdf (in Russian).
Reflection of destructive public influence in the novel by Theodore Dreiser «American tragedy»
Dusina Natalia Viktorovna
Mordovian State Pedagogical University, Saransk, Russia
E-mail: dnv179@mail.ru
Zotova Lyudmila Ivanovna
National Research Mordovian State University, Saransk, Russia
E-mail: lizotova70@mail.ru
Abanina Tatiana Stepanovna
Mordovian State Pedagogical University, Saransk, Russia
E-mail: ats40@mail.ru
Abstract. The purpose of the study carried out within the framework of this article is to determine the specifics of the reflection in the novel «An American Tragedy», one of the most famous works of the American writer and public figure Theodore Dreiser, the destructive influence of society on the main character — Clyde Griffith, an average young American with a typically American outlook on life.
In accordance with this goal, the conflict of a young man with a hostile American society is considered, expressed in the fact that the hero wants to take a higher position in society despite his low origin. T. Dreiser, when depicting the «American tragedy», calls the capitalist society directly guilty, imposing on people, especially young boys and girls, false life goals, illusory ideals, a society that puts material values at the forefront to the detriment of the spiritual component of life.
In addition, the authors of the article identified the means of manifestation of a destructive social influence on the protagonist of the novel, which ultimately led him to commit a crime and death, a comparative analysis was carried out in order to identify plot parallels of T. Dreiser’s novel with novels F.M. Dostoevsky «Crime and Punishment» and M. Puzo «The Last Don».
As a result of the study of the plot and the problems of the novel «An American Tragedy», it is proved that T. Dreiser managed with great skill, within the framework of the plot about the dreams of a poor young man, to demonstrate the illusory nature of the idea of pursuing easy happiness, to show the depravity of society, which causes ordinary people an irresistible desire to do whatever no matter how rich.
Keywords: concept «American dream»; society; middle class; problem; pernicious influence; concept «American tragedy»; plot
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