LONELINESS AND FAME: THE CONCEPT OF PERSONAL HAPPINESS IN “SISTER CARRIE”

Аннотация

This article explores the concept of personal happiness in Theodore Dreiser’s novel Sister Carrie, focusing on the protagonist’s journey through loneliness and fame. The narrative illustrates how the pursuit of material success and social recognition often leads to emotional isolation. Through Carrie’s transformation from a naive country girl to a celebrated actress, Dreiser reveals the complex interplay between external success and internal fulfillment. The analysis also touches on the socio-economic factors influencing individual desires and the illusion of the American Dream. Keywords: Sister Carrie, Theodore Dreiser, personal happiness, loneliness, fame, American Dream, social status, materialism, individualism.