VividHeroine
——OnSisterCarrie
Carriewassuchanordinaryruralgirlatthebeginningofthestory.Sittingontheseatofabus,shecouldn’thelpfeelingexcitingatthesightofthemetropolis’spectacle.Shewasimpresseddeeplybylargecrowdontheavenue,thespacioussquareortallbuildings.
Farmoredifferentfromotherheroines,CarriewasnotaplainpureangellikeSnow-white,norwasshebraveenoughtobeaheroineofrevolutionistorevenareformer,norwasshesocleverastobeasuccessfulcareerwomanwhostartfromscratch.
Whatattractedhermost,afterherenteringthishugemetropoliswastheincrediblefineries,fashionshoes,smarthandbagsdisplayingintheshopwindows,thejewellerysshiningbrightlybehindtheglass.Shedreamedthatoneday,shecouldwearallofthese,jogginggracefullyintothemostluxurioushotelwithfocusedsightsofadmiration.
Andthiswasnotmerelyadream.Becauseshehadlargeeyeswhichcanearnothers’sympathy,evenlove.Shehadwonderfulfigurewhichcanwinothers’hearts.However,anythingshegot,anywhereshereached,hadnotcomefromherambition.Thingshappened,andthensheaccepted.That’swhatshehadjustdone—justtoacceptwillinglyfromthebottomofherheart.Shewasnotatallanevilwomanwhowouldgiveanythingforthefortuneorfame.However,shewouldgiveuosomethingforabetterlifewhenherinstinctdefeatedherintellect.
ThatwasCarrie,agirlhadherowndesire,ahumanbeingjustlikemanyothersintherealisticworld.
There’sonesentencewritteninchapterVIII:”Whenthisjangleoffree-willinstinctshallhavebeenadjusted,whenperfectunderstandinghasgiventheformerthepowertoreplacethelatterentirely,manwillnolongervary.”However,howmanypeoplecangothatfurther.
AndIwanttoquoteanothersentencetowindupmyessay:
“InCarrie—asinhowmanyofourwordingsdotheynot?—instinctandreason,desireandunderstanding,wereatwarforthemastery.”
