Pleasure Reading. Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser. (Chapters 16-22).

Drouet was a member of a secret order in which favour he was working. So this order for the sake of improvement of its economic prosperity made a decision to organize a play. Drouet was asked to find a young woman for one of the main roles in this play. His decision fell upon Carrie.

As for Carrie, she was afraid to accept his suggestion in view of her shyness, but after long persuasions of Drouet she agreed.  Furthermore, Carrie dreamed to become an actress and it was her chance. Carrie rapidly got into the role and Drouet’s praises and admiration instilled confidence in her. Moreover Hurtswood supported this idea and promised her to be at the play. Hurtswood as an influential person in the city did his best in order to attract the social attention to this play.

After successful rehearsals Carrie was inspired and became confident in her success. But in the day of performance all her confidence vanished and the beginning of the play failed. Hurtswood sent Drouet to cheer up her and after that Carrie regained her spirit and finished the play perfectly striking the audience. Hurtswood and Drouet loved her even more and each of them desired to own her. Hurtswood suffered that he couldn’t to admire her openly and hated Drouet that he could.  During their next meeting Hurtswood begged Carrie to leave Drouet and she promised him to do it.

Meanwhile, Drouet began to suspect that something was wrong. He couldn’t recognize former Carrie who saw him as an object of adoration. Carrie stopped to admire him and share some events and plans. So he learned from housemaid that Hurstwood frequently visited Carrie during his absence, but Carrie told him about it nothing.

Moreover Hurtswood’s family relationships also began to ruin. His wife, Mrs. Hurtswood, cold and circumspect woman began to suspect his husband in unfaithfulness. Some of evidences from Hurtswood’s friends made Mrs. Hurtswood think out a plan of revenge.