An American Tragedy

Rating:
Summary: Truly An American Tragedy
Review: An American Tragedy, by Theodore Dreiser is a compelling novel about a boy's struggle with himself and his position in society. Born into a poor, religious family, he desires to live among the upper class socialites. He almost achieves this when he moves out to live with his rich uncle. But his lust for money and women brings about a trial for murder and an execution in the electric chair.
Although this may sound like an incredible novel, it is indeed "An American Tragedy." I would not recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a page turner and being kept on the edge of their seat. Dreiser's use of foreshadowing and symbolism are excellent, yet the details are endless. This book could have easily been compacted into 300 pages rather than 856 if it weren't for the neverending details Dreiser wrote into every paragraph. Besides the details, there were also nearly 200 characters. This made it very difficult to keep up with who was who and which one was important. In the end, for the reasons I stated above, if you have a lot of time on your hands, you might enjoy this book.

Rating:
Summary: A Simple Plan
Review: The film "A Simple Plan" could have easily been called "An American Tragedy," and the book "An American Tragedy" could have just as easily been called "A Simple Plan." The plan at the book's center seems so simple indeed. The novel's protagonist, Clyde Griffiths, impregnates a girl below his social station, and he's so terrified by the idea of being exposed and ruining his chances at a life as part of the social elite (and losing the local well-to-do beauty to whom he's hitched himself) that he actually finds himself driven to kill her as his only escape. But Clyde has a simple mind, and his efforts to claw his way out of a desperate situation that inexorably suffocates him is compelling fiction.

Theodore Dreiser has been called one of the worst great writers in the history of literature, and that claim is justified. He can hardly compose a sentence that doesn't drop like lead from the tongue. He's especially fond of the double negative, which can become pretty tedious in a 900+ page novel. And in retrospect, the amount of plot on display in his novel does not seem to warrant its length, but somehow, I was able to overcome these two factors and find myself engrossed in it anyway. It doesn't for one second become boring or slow. And it offers some especially candid and frank ideas about the nature of guilt and the culpability of those who take lives, whether they're working on the side of crime or the law. Most fascinating for me were the novel's final pages, when Clyde tries to turn to religion for solace when he's at his loneliest, but can't get around the notion that there's really nothing to turn to.

Dreiser pulls off quite a feat by making all of his characters sympathetic. I didn't want Clyde to get away scot-free with what he'd done, but my heart couldn't help but go out to him. Likewise, Roberta, the girl he wrongs, could have come across as shrewish in another author's hands (she does in the film version, "A Place in the Sun," if you're interested in a literature to film comparison) but she doesn't here. Even Sondra, who could have been so unlikeably spoiled, comes across as essentially a warm character.

1925 was the literary year for deconstructing the American Dream. Both "An American Tragedy" and "The Great Gatsby" came out that year, and while I have to admit that "Gatsby" is a better written book, "Tragedy" just has a visceral appeal for me, and it's the one I enjoyed more.

Rating:
Summary: Based on a true story...
Review: Just a note, no one here has mentioned that this is based on a true event that took place in Herkimer county in 1906 I believe.

Rating:
Summary: excellent narrative!
Review: In An American Tragedy, Dreiser sets out to outline the pathos of an American Dream gone wrong. In Clyde Griffiths, you have Everyman, someone who strives to rise from poverty to riches, from anonymity to wealth. But to reach that goal, he resorts to falsehood,adultery and murder. The early part of this epic focuses on Clyde's childhood, his religious upbringing and his subsequent rebellion against the austere and joyless existence he is destined to live had he stayed in his parent's mission.

Working as a bell-boy in a hotel, Clyde comes under the influence of other wayward youths, which will play a big part in his having to leave Kansas. In Chicago, he meets his wealthy uncle, who offers him a job at his collar factory in Lycurgus, and it is there that Clyde meets and falls in love with Roberta, a worker under his charge. Again, fate deals Clyde a bad hand and he chances upon Sondra, a rich girl who catches his fancy and who, ultimately, leads to his demise. While the last part of this book can be tightened and shortened, Dreiser presents to the reader an excellent example of the power of great narrative. The ominous portents of Cylde's destruction is presented as his initial pursuit of Hortense, a less-wealthy version of Sondra. The irony of his first direct contact with Roberta on a boat on a lake, and her subsequent death in similar circumstances, cannot escape the reader. Clyde's inability to grasp his guilt even up to the end is a true reflection of human nature. Although Dreiser's sentence construction can, at times, be ponderous, the his descriptive and narrative powers more than make up for that. This 800-plus epic is well worth taking the time to read!

Rating:
Summary: A Simple Plan
Review: The film "A Simple Plan" could have easily been called "An American Tragedy," and the book "An American Tragedy" could have just as easily been called "A Simple Plan." The plan at the book's center seems so simple indeed. The novel's protagonist, Clyde Griffiths, impregnates a girl below his social station, and he's so terrified by the idea of being exposed and ruining his chances at a life as part of the social elite (and losing the local well-to-do beauty to whom he's hitched himself) that he actually finds himself driven to kill her as his only escape. But Clyde has a simple mind, and his efforts to claw his way out of a desperate situation that inexorably suffocates him is compelling fiction.

Theodore Dreiser has been called one of the worst great writers in the history of literature, and that claim is justified. He can hardly compose a sentence that doesn't drop like lead from the tongue. He's especially fond of the double negative, which can become pretty tedious in a 900+ page novel. And in retrospect, the amount of plot on display in his novel does not seem to warrant its length, but somehow, I was able to overcome these two factors and find myself engrossed in it anyway. It doesn't for one second become boring or slow. And it offers some especially candid and frank ideas about the nature of guilt and the culpability of those who take lives, whether they're working on the side of crime or the law. Most fascinating for me were the novel's final pages, when Clyde tries to turn to religion for solace when he's at his loneliest, but can't get around the notion that there's really nothing to turn to.

Dreiser pulls off quite a feat by making all of his characters sympathetic. I didn't want Clyde to get away scot-free with what he'd done, but my heart couldn't help but go out to him. Likewise, Roberta, the girl he wrongs, could have come across as shrewish in another author's hands (she does in the film version, "A Place in the Sun," if you're interested in a literature to film comparison) but she doesn't here. Even Sondra, who could have been so unlikeably spoiled, comes across as essentially a warm character.

1925 was the literary year for deconstructing the American Dream. Both "An American Tragedy" and "The Great Gatsby" came out that year, and while I have to admit that "Gatsby" is a better written book, "Tragedy" just has a visceral appeal for me, and it's the one I enjoyed more.

Rating:
Summary: Put it on your must read list.
Review: Yes, it is a very long book over 800 pages; yes it is definitely an American classic; yes, it is an tragedy; but whether it is a portrait of the dark side of the American Dream is debatable. Dreiser does a masterful job portraying the harsh realities of American life at the turn of the twentieth century. The factories, the class structure and the promise of success that eluded many people including our protagonists were the realities that an upwardly mobile young man would face. But as I read this book, I could not blame the American Dream for Clydes selfish ambition and crime as much as I blamed Clyde himself. To some extent, most of us who have not been born into position of wealth and power, seek to gain both through our careers, marriage and the friendships we forge; yet, very few of us will succumb to the manipulation and subterfuge as Clyde did. The fleeting promise of money, power and position were not responsible for Clydes crime. When we see such callousness and disregard for human life as demonstrated by Clyde we cannot bring ourselves to blame the perpetrator of the crime. Somehow people who do horrible things are not to blame for their actions- we psychologize their behavior by saying they are sick, or we minimize their behavior by saying that society is culpable, ie, racism, poverty, homophobia, or Twinkies are at least partly responsible.

Clyde plotted murder and used people because he was a bad person. He was evil. He used people for his own pleasure and advancement and when they got in his way he got rid of them. Dark side of the American Dream? Would Clyde behaved himself better if he raised in a socialist workers paradise? Would he faired better if society was more egalitarian? I do not think so. Some people are just evil. This is not so much a portrayal of the dark side of the American dream as much as it is a portrayal of the dark side of man.

Yes, it is a great book. Dreiser is a master at drawing the reader into the story. Without giving the plot away, the reader is drawn into the mind of Clyde as he plots his murder only to give into second thoughts and finds himself accused of a murder that he plotted out in detail, but did not intentionally commit. Clydes refusal to save Roberta and his behavior after the death her death accuses him. It's is truly a great book.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Novel -- Worthy of Your Time!
Review: As a writer, this book stands as a shining example of perfect prose. Because of his descriptions, you as the reader are able to get a very clear and accurate picture of every character and scene in the book. And, unlike with say, some of Steinbeck's work, you actually care about these characters. You also are able to draw parallels throughout the novel, and those parallels are crucial to understanding the character of Clyde Griffiths, and why he ultimately does what he does. He's not thinking in terms of law, or morality, or what's "right." He's thinking only of himself. Other recent Amazon purchases I recommend: Under the Volcano by Lowry, The Losers' Club by Richard Perez

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Summary: American dream, American nightmare...
Review: Inspired by the sensational details from a famous 1906 murder case -- in which a young man named Chester Gillette killed his girlfriend Grace Brown for being 'inconvenient' -- Theodore Dreiser had all the elements to paint a great portrait of American society on its rise as an industrial power at the turn of the 20th century.

The social barriers between the poor and the (new) rich, the tugging materialism, and an underlying puritanism made up the social fabric around which Dreiser recreated Clyde Griffiths as Gillette and Roberta Alden as Brown. Driven by their human impulses and then trapped by social and moral prejudices, the outcome was a monumental tragedy of wasted young lives for both characters.

This novel is long (over 800 pages), and the writing style is torturous. It could probably be more appreciated for its social-historical value than as 'classic literature'. If you haven't read anything by Dreiser previously, you may want to try 'Sister Carrie' before tackling this one.

Rating:
Summary: Long but Worthy
Review: Theodore Dreiser (1871-1945) is one of the giants of American letters. His novel "Sister Carrie," written in 1900, is a cathedral of naturalist literature. Almost as epic as his novels was the constant state of warfare that existed between Dreiser and publishers who consistently refused to publish his books because of the shocking themes the author wrote about. One of his biggest battles involved "An American Tragedy," a sprawling book based on a real murder case that occurred in New York at the beginning of the 20th century. Dreiser used the Chester Gillette/Grace Brown episode as the basis for a story that strongly criticized America's infatuation with materialism and social status. In the Gillette case, a young dandy with an eye for the ladies impregnated a young woman and then drowned her in a lake when her condition threatened to put an end to his social life. During the subsequent trial of Chester Gillette, all of America readily soaked up the sordid details of the case. Gillette, vehemently denying that he had anything to do with Grace Brown's murder despite his conviction on a first-degree murder charge, died in the electric chair at Auburn State Prison on March 30, 1908. Dreiser went to such lengths investigating the case for his book that he even took his wife out on the lake where Gillette committed his crime, apparently worrying his spouse that he might recreate the crime.

In "An American Tragedy," Chester Gillette becomes Clyde Griffiths, the son of itinerant evangelists who roam the country operating missions for the destitute. His parents often take Clyde and his siblings out on the streets of the city in order to sing hymns and hand out religious tracts. While in Kansas City, Clyde reaches the age of sixteen and decides to strike out on his own. Tired of the austere life led by his family, Clyde secures a job as a bellboy at a big hotel downtown. The money he earns and the friends he makes at the hotel quickly lead to Clyde's indoctrination into the fast life of fine clothes, fine food, and fast women. An unfortunate incident with a "borrowed" car leads to his hasty departure from Kansas City to points east.

After a few years of drifting from job to job under an assumed name, Clyde happens to run into a rich uncle at a hotel in Chicago. The uncle, moderately impressed with his nephew's appearance and attitude, offers the young man a job at his collar factory in Lycurgus, New York. Clyde jumps at the opportunity, picturing himself rising quickly at the factory into a world of wealth and privilege. The reality turns out to be quite the opposite. His uncle is indifferent to Clyde's presence, rarely inviting him out to the family estate and starting him at the lowest, dirtiest job in the factory. A cousin named Gilbert also proves troublesome to Clyde's aspirations. Gilbert sees his poor cousin as a real threat to his own position as heir apparent at the factory. Moreover, Gilbert and Clyde are astonishingly similar in appearance. Despite these obstacles, Clyde is optimistic that he will win over his cousin and uncle after a few months time. But he needs to move fast when he meets Sondra Finchley, the daughter of one of the richest families in Lycurgus. If only Clyde could woo this pretty girl and get a good position at the factory! All his dreams would come true!

Clyde's dreams nearly do reach fruition until he finds himself in a spectacularly scandalous position. For when Sondra finally decides to make a move for Clyde, she doesn't know about his involvement with a poor factory girl named Roberta Alden. The inevitable eventually happens: Clyde impregnates Roberta at a time when Sondra professes her love for him. Griffiths is in a real pickle now, for he must drop Roberta so he can position himself with Sondra. Clyde convinces Roberta to seek a way out of the pregnancy but various methods fail to work. All seems disaster until Clyde remembers an article in the paper about a drowning at a local lake, and an unthinkable plan begins to form.

The minute detail of Clyde's rise and eventual fall leaves no stone unturned. The chapters covering the defense and prosecution's questioning of Clyde during his murder trial cover some seventy pages. Sometimes the details are too much, such as a description of a car accident that takes up way too many pages. Dreiser's mania for detail may be the biggest failing of "An American Tragedy" because the reader quickly becomes impatient with the pace of the story as the narrative bogs down under a mass of minutiae. Moreover, the author's convoluted prose style leaves a lot to be desired. His language is often so dense that even H.L. Mencken commented on it in the introduction to the story.

BUT, and this is a big but, Dreiser's story is deeply affecting. It is well worth reading 850 pages to experience the mind blasting intensity of the story. This is truly a tragedy, as Clyde's crime ruins dozens of people's lives. And such a powerful conclusion! Clyde's march to the electric chair brought tears to my eyes, especially when his mother chucks all the religious chatter, grabs her son, and murmurs "my son, my baby." Then note how Dreiser brings the story full circle after the execution. That is what the author does with this story: he makes you feel for nearly every character in the narrative. Ultimately, "An American Tragedy" is a great book with a few niggling problems. You will be glad you read it, though.

Rating:
Summary: a memorable book
Review: I read this book over 35 years ago when I was in my early teens. It was the first large novel that I tried to tackle and I have been grateful ever since that I gave it a try. The author, Theodore Dreiser, led me through the early life of the main character, Clyde Griffiths. We see him focussing on becoming a moderate success in life. He discovers the benefits of hard work and a little luck. In time he finds himself with a nice job in up-state New York. He seems to be set and starts dating one of his fellow factory workers. Their romance seems headed in the right direction but gets ahead of schedule as she becomes pregnant. Bad timing, because Clyde has just caught the eye of the bosses beautiful daughter. This is the 1920's so current relaxed standards and current debatable solutions were not in vogue at the time. Clyde sees a bright future that will evaporate with the birth of his first-born. What to do? Well, certainly not what Clyde chose to do.

The question is, what IS the American Tragedy? I believe that Dreiser meant it to be the pitfalls of Capitalism. I believe that he was a Socialist at heart and probably in practice. Many a reader will come away with this sentiment as well. However, the irony to me is that it is a uniquely American tragedy because Clyde was a kid from nowhere who had the opportunity to rise to the upper levels. I realize that there were family contacts and that his next boost was going to come from marrying the bosses daughter. However, in European society of his time, neither of these options were even possible. The problem for Clyde is that he focussed more on what he could become than on who he should be. This is a story about avarice and how it can blind an otherwise reasonable person. It is a message that is worldwide in a setting that IS very American.