A review by titovanel
Theodore Dreiser: An American Tragedy (Loa #140) by Thomas P. Riggio, Theodore Dreiser

5.0

It took me a while to finally gather my thoughts about «An American Tragedy» by Theodor Dreiser. My scarce writing skills cannot express everything I emphasized for myself after reading this one, but it turned out to be such a remarkable read for me that I was devastated for a couple of days and I don’t think I will be over this masterpiece someday.

The ordinary story of the American dream turns out to be a condemnation of the main character. His desire of becoming rich and worthy of high life becomes a stumbling block rather than an impetus for development. The way the author describes the reasons for Clyde’s actions, his early years of poverty, is depicted vividly as I’m used to thinking due to Dreiser’s biography. It is also quite interesting to analyze the intertextuality of «An American Tragedy» with «Crime and Punishment». I’ve read a lot about his journeys to Russia and the influence he had from Russian writers so it was a great bonus for me as a reader.

The excellence of Dreiser’s writing style made me feel completely opposite emotions to the act done by the character. His emotional experiences induce us not only to blame him but to accept the protagonist’s intentions and imagine ourselves in similar situation. It makes the reading process more psychological.

«Having reached an intersection this side of the second principal thoroughfare — really just an alley between two tall structures — now quite bare of life of any kind, the man put down the organ»

I’m obsessed with ring compositions in books so I was totally impressed by the end which can have completely different meanings for everyone: mental transformation after traumatic events and realization of previous life failures, or it may be stagnancy of soul in its own belief.

«…one of those vain, handsome, animal personalities, all clothes and airs, but no morals (no taste, no courtesy or real tenderness even), but of compelling magnetism…»

Dreiser doesn’t criticize the motives of the protagonist, he exposes the vices of the aristocratic world and allows the reader to draw their own conclusions. That’s why this book is much more than a story about Clyde Griffiths, a man who wanted to change his life. It’s about decisions you need to make every day, about deep faith, disregard for morality, ways to achieve the goal, and responsibility to one’s conscience.