A Bird in an Unlocked Cage--Image of Sister Carrie

Sister Carrier, the protagonist of Theodore Dreiser's first novel Sister Carrie, is a controversial character in American literature. Some critics hold the view that Carrier is an "immoral woman" because of her insatiable desires. Others agree to consider Carrie as a "new woman" who struggles to achieve her self-realization. However, the author's opinion does not belong to either side. Based on the analysis of Carrie's rags-to-riches story, this paper examines how traditional values shape her and argues that she remains confined to the role society assigns to her.