sister carrie

Chapter 12 (1)

Chapter 7 The Seduction of Materials: The Charm of Beauty (1)
The true meaning of money has yet to be explained and studied generally.Wait until everyone learns by themselves that this thing is just a due reward, and it can only be seen in this way—what it pays is the energy saved by honest means, not by robbing. Privilege - Only then will many of our social, religious, and political disputes disappear permanently.As for Carrie, she understood the morality of money just as the average person did.There is an old saying: "If others have money, I must have it too." This sentence most thoroughly expresses her understanding of money.Now that she had some money in her hand—two limp green ten-dollar bills—she thought her life would be much easier with them.There is such a thing as power in banknotes.She had an idea in her mind that as long as she had a bundle of banknotes in her hand, it would be fine to throw them on a desert island.Only prolonged hunger will teach her that there are situations where money is of no use.Even at that moment, she would not understand the relative value of this thing.Her thinking would no doubt be that, with so much power, she could not use it.

The poor girl looked overjoyed when she left Drouet.She was also a little ashamed that she took the money weakly.Still, she was so embarrassed that she was happy.Now she can have a nice new coat! Now she's going to buy a pair of nice shoes with buttons.She'd have socks, skirts, and, and—just as she had estimated her wages earlier, she'd have more than twice the purchasing power of two banknotes.

She had a real estimate of Drouet.To her, and indeed to the world, he was a good man with a kind heart.There is absolutely no evil element to be found in this man.He gave her money only out of kindness—out of recognition of her difficulty.He would not have given such a sum to a poor young man, but we must not forget that a poor young man cannot, in the nature of things, move his heart as much as a poor young girl.It was women that struck a chord with him.He is the product of the desires that genius gave him.But if any beggar saw him and said to him, "My God, sir, I'm hungry," he'd still gladly give the beggar his money, and never think about it afterwards. thing.He does not go on to meditate or do any philosophical thinking.His psychological quality has nothing to do with the solemn meaning of these nouns.He was well-dressed, well-built, a carpe-dweller, a mindless, moth-like fellow.If he hadn't been in his current position, and he had suffered all kinds of entanglement and blows in the world, then he would have been in a desperate situation like Carrie—or it could be said that he was in a desperate situation like her, no one understood, no one knew what to do. pity.

As for his courtesans, he had no intention of harming them, for he did not see any harm in the relations he wanted to have with them.He loves to court women and make them submit to his charms, not because he is a cold-blooded, black-hearted, conspiring rogue, but because his natural desire drives him to the greatest pleasure.He was vain, bragging, and, like a foolish girl, was as bewildered by fine clothes.A vicious rogue could fool him as easily as he could fool a beautiful shopgirl.His success as a broker was due to his kindness and the reputation of his store.He nodded and greeted people everywhere, and he was like a fire to people-he had no talents that could be called intellectuals, no thoughts that could be called noble, and no affections that could last.A man of good morals would say he was a pig, a Shakespeare would call him "my funny boy," the old drunken boss Caryao thought He is a smart, capable businessman.In short, he was a good man, in the sense his mind could understand.

The best evidence of the man's frankness and merit was that Carrie took the money.A man of evil and treacherous will not give Carrie a quarter on the pretense of friendship.A man without knowledge is not so desperate.The Creator taught the animals to flee when unexpected danger approached.The creator also installed a natural fear of poison in the stupid little head of the chipmunk. "God preserves all that he has made." This does not refer only to wild beasts.Carrie is not intelligent, and therefore, like a sheep, is not intelligent, but emotional.The instinct of self-preservation, which is strong in all natural creatures, was in a weaker degree, if any, aroused by Drouet's courtesies.

After Carrie was gone, Drouet was overjoyed that Carrie had said him well.God, it's a disgrace that young girls have to wander like this.It's cold, but I have no clothes to wear. It's miserable.He's going to the Fitzgerald-Moai for a cigar.The thought of her made him lighten his steps.

Carrie's joy at coming home could not be concealed.Getting the money involved a lot of problems, which made her feel quite embarrassed.Minny knew she had no money, so how could she buy any clothes? She had made up her mind as soon as she entered the house.It didn't work, she couldn't explain it.

"How did it turn out?" Minnie asked, pointing to the events of the day.

Carrie did not understand the deceitful little tricks, and what was in her mind said the exact opposite.She might as well prevaricate, but at least it must go with her feelings, she said:
"Some hope."

"where?"

"Boston store."

"Did you agree?" Minnie asked.

"Well, we'll have to see it to-morrow," replied Carrie, who didn't like to lie more than was necessary.

Minnie felt the happy air that Carrie had brought back.Now, she felt, she could tell Carrie all about Hanson's thoughts on her return to Chicago.

"If you can't find—" She hesitated, not knowing what to say.

"If I can't find something to do soon, I think I'll go home."

Minnie saw her chance coming.

"Swain thinks it might as well do it in winter, at least."

Carrie woke up suddenly.If there is no job, they don't want to keep her anymore.She didn't blame Minnie, and she didn't blame Hansheng very much.She sat at this moment, pondering over the meaning of the words, and felt fortunate to have Drouet's money.

"Yeah," she said after a while, "I think that's the way to go."

She did not say how much hatred that thought aroused in her nature.What was there for her to do in Columbia City? She knew in her heart the narrow, monotonous circle of life there.And here, this great and mysterious city, was still a magnet for her.What she had seen only showed what her probable future would be.To turn away from it now, to live that little old life—she almost cried out at the thought.

She came home early and went to the front room to think about it.What would she do? She couldn't buy new shoes and put them on her feet here.She had to save some of the 20 yuan for getting ready to go home.She didn't want to borrow money from Minnie for this.However, she couldn't even explain how she got the money.If only she could make some money enough for her to cover it up.

She thought over and over about the entangled knot.To-morrow morning Drouet would expect her to put on that new coat, but it was impossible.Hansheng's family is looking forward to her going back to her hometown.As for her, she wanted to leave, but she didn't want to go back to her hometown.In their eyes, what would she think when she got the money without working? Thinking about it this way, it seemed a terrible thing to accept the money.She began to feel a little ashamed.The whole situation made her very depressed.When she was with Drouet, everything was plain.But now, nothing was entangled, nothing was hopeful--worse than ever, because she seemed to have help in her hands, but she couldn't use it.

She looked downcast.At supper Minnie thought it must be because she had had another hard day.Carrie finally decided that she wanted the money back.It was a mistake to take this money.Tomorrow morning, she's going downtown looking for work.At noon she was to meet Drouet as agreed, and tell him.The idea settled, and her heart sank, and she was the beleaguered Carrie she had been before.

Strangely enough, she couldn't help feeling a little relieved to have the money in her hands.Even when she came to such uncomfortable conclusions, she was able to blow all thoughts of the matter away, and yet the twenty dollars seemed like a great, lovable thing.Ah, money, money, money! How wonderful it is to have money.With a lot of money, what troubles can't be cleared away.

She got up the next morning and went out a little earlier than usual.She was quite determined to seek work, but the troubles she had caused her by having that money in her pocket did not in the least make the problem of finding work any less dreadful.

She was in the wholesale section, but her heart sank at the thought of finding work every time she passed a store.She blamed herself for being such a coward, but no matter how many times she had applied for a job, it wasn't the same old way.She walked and walked, and finally did walk into a house, but got the same result.She walked out the door feeling that luck was against her.There is no way.

She didn't think much of it, and walked to the Rue d'Arpon.Here was the big store, with delivery trucks all around, long windows with samples, crowds of customers.The sight naturally turned her thoughts in another direction.Her original thoughts made her suffer enough.But this is the place where she originally wanted to buy more things.In order to relieve her distress at the moment, she thought she might as well go in and have a look at the coat.

There is nothing more interesting in the world than the in-between state of psychological balance that comes with money.With money in hand, you are tempted by desire, but you are blocked by your conscience, or in other words, lack of determination, so you hang in the middle.Such was the state of mind Carrie was in as she wandered about the colorful malls.Her earlier impressions made her think highly of the strengths here.Every display she hurried past at the beginning, now she stops to watch carefully one by one.Her womanly heart was bent on these things.How pretty and charming she would be in such a dress! When she went to the inner wardrobe, she was fascinated by the lovely lace fabrics of all colors.She could buy some right away if she made up her mind.She hangs around the jewelry department.She looked at earrings, bracelets, brooches, gold chains.If she could have it all, there was something she wouldn't give! Just a few of them and she'd look pretty good.

(End of this chapter)