Works Of Theodore Dreiser Consumerism And Religious Traditions

Theodore Dreiser is one of the most influential authors in the 20th century American literary history. He lived in a social transitional period when America was transformed from production-oriented society to consumption-oriented society. Most of his novels describe the true American life under consumerism values. As a result, there was a tendency that the traditional religious faith was ignored and forgotten gradually by people. The conflict between consumerism and religion is the main theme of Dreiser's novels. This paper aims to study the author's life experiences and the consumerism and religion reflected in his novels by means of both cultural criticism and textual analysis, in order to provide reference for modern society which is affected by the rising consumerism and declining religion that reveal the negative influences on human beings and the society. The study is significant for achieving the harmonious development of consumption and progress of the society.