An American Tragedy | Themes and Characters
Dreiser uses the tragic life of Clyde Griffiths to expose inequality and victimization. Clyde is a weak-willed character, but he has an avid desire to achieve wealth and social position. He hungers for the American Dream, and he leaves his family at the first opportunity in order to achieve it. Clyde comes from a poor fundamentalist Christian family who finds comfort in God's word, but Clyde seeks material rather than spiritual comfort. The novel follows Clyde from childhood to adulthood as he seeks to redefine his identity and find success. As events unfold, his actions reveal that he...
[The entire page is 1355 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Navigate
Tell a friend about An American Tragedy at eNotes.
