创作于19世纪末的《嘉莉妹妹》是德莱塞的第一部作品。当时的美国正处于由传统的农业国向现代化的工业国,由自由资本主义向垄断资本主义转变的过程。社会转型给人们带来财富的同时也带来了价值观的转变。人们不再奉行清教徒式的勤劳、节俭、自控的生活方式,取而代之的是无节制的物质享受和消遣。《嘉莉妹妹》就是当时社会价值观转变的缩影。 Sister Carrie, created at the end of the 19th century, is Dreiser’s first work. At that time, the United States was in the process of transforming from a traditional agricultural country to a modern industrialized country and from free capitalism to monopoly capitalism. Social transformation brings wealth to people and also brings about changes in values. People no longer follow the Puritan style of hard-working, frugal, self-controlled lifestyle, replaced by the unbridled material comforts and pastimes. “Sister Carrie” is a microcosm of the change in social values ​​at the time.