Theodore Dreiser : The Bulwarkへの道(II)

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Charles Child Walcutt divides the naturalism of Theodore Dreiser into several stages, and he indicates that "the third stage in Dreiser's naturalism is marked by his conversion to socialism." In this third stage Dreiser wrote his longest and greatest novel, An American Tragedy (1925). As Walcutt points out, this novel is that of socialism, if we accentuates why Dreiser wrote the novel. But, if we lays emphasis on the method how Dreiser wrote this novel, this novel is that of naturalism. It is not so important whether An American Tragedy is the novel of socialism or of naturalism. Walcutt explains that "this socialistic purpose-if it may be called a purpose-does not become part of the movement of the novel; it does not contaminate the tragedy; it does not, in short, prevent Dreiser from being, still a naturalist." Toward the end of the novel Dreiser shows us that Clyde Griffiths understands Christianity, even if he cannot be a real Christian, which seems to mean that paganism converts to Puritanism. On the other hand, through Rev. McMillan's being disturbed by doubting his decision before God, Dreiser seems to reveal that Puritanism approaches humanism. Then Dreiser tells us that An American Tragedy steps up to The Bulwark through the approach of these two different attitudes to life.
仙台大学の論文