An American Tragedy

An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser, published in 1925, is a novel that explores the dark side of the American Dream through the life of Clyde Griffiths, a young man driven by ambition and social aspiration but undone by his own moral failings and societal pressures. Based on the 1906 Chester Gillette murder case, the story delves into themes of class, desire, and the consequences of unchecked ambition.

Clyde Griffiths, born into a poor, religious family, dreams of wealth and status. Moving from a modest upbringing in Kansas City to working in a hotel, he’s drawn to materialism and social climbing. After a car accident forces him to flee, he lands in Lycurgus, New York, working at his wealthy uncle’s factory. There, he becomes infatuated with Sondra Finchley, a wealthy socialite, but also begins a relationship with Roberta Alden, a poor factory worker. When Roberta becomes pregnant and demands marriage, Clyde’s aspirations to marry Sondra and ascend socially are threatened. His desperation leads to a plan to murder Roberta, culminating in her accidental drowning during a boat trip. Clyde is arrested, tried, and ultimately convicted, facing the electric chair as the novel examines his psychological unraveling and society’s role in his fate.