Consumer Culture in Sister Carrie and The House of Mirth

One of the most important phenomena of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries is the rise of mass consumption. This consumer culture is abundantly reflected in the literature of the time. This book aims at comparing the status of individuals in the American consumer culture at the turn of the century in two novels, Sister Carrie (1900) by Theodore Dreiser and The House of Mirth (1905) by Edith Wharton, in the light of Jean Baudrillard’s theory of consumption. Baudrillard states that in this kind of society, human beings are valued for reasons other than their humanity and they live according to a new rhythm: the rhythm of succession or consumption of objects. In both novels, characters have insatiable desire for commodities which are introduced, in their society, as signs of success, happiness, and salvation. Characters use these commodities to be distinguished from their fellowmen in order to determine their identities. In this way, the interactive human relationships are either materialized or replaced by the individuals’ relationship with commodities. Those interested in the American consumer society at the turn of the century will find this book a valuable source.