Sister Carrie · Chapter
XLVI: Stirring Troubled Waters explained
Carrie, now a successful actress in New York, is visited backstage by the ever-optimistic Charles Drouet, who rekindles their old acquaintance.
What happens
Carrie, now a successful actress in New York, is visited backstage by the ever-optimistic Charles Drouet, who rekindles their old acquaintance. Later, she encounters Robert Ames, whose thoughtful observations about her natural expression and potential for serious drama stir deep longings and self-doubt, prompting her to question her current path in comedy.
Themes in this chapter
Ambition and Desire
Carrie's encounter with Ames reawakens her desire for artistic fulfillment and a more meaningful career, challenging her current contentment with comedy.
Love and Illusion
Drouet's reappearance highlights the illusion of past relationships and the superficiality of his charm, while Ames offers a more genuine, though platonic, connection.
Gender and Independence
Carrie's success as an actress and her ability to choose her own path (refusing Drouet's advances, contemplating a career change) reflect her growing independence in a male-dominated society.
Characters to notice
- Caroline Meeber
Now a successful actress in New York, she is visited by Drouet and later engages in a profound conversation with Ames about her artistic potential.
- Charles Drouet
Reappears in Carrie's life, unchanged and exuberant, seeking to rekindle their old friendship and boasting of his business prospects.
- Robert Ames
Offers Carrie insightful, almost philosophical observations about her natural expression and urges her to pursue serious drama, stirring her inner longings.
- Lola
Carrie's friend and fellow actress, to whom Carrie confides her thoughts about leaving comedy for a more serious role.
- George Hurstwood
Mentioned by Drouet; Carrie says she hasn't seen him for some time, indicating their estrangement.
Key passages
“The world is always struggling to express itself. Most people are not capable of voicing their feelings. They depend upon others. That is what genius is for.”
Ames explains that most people cannot articulate their emotions, so they rely on artists to express their collective desires.
Ames articulates a theory of artistic genius as a conduit for universal human longing, directly influencing Carrie's self-perception.
“You have this quality in your eyes and mouth and in your nature. You can lose it, you know. If you turn away from it and live to satisfy yourself alone, it will go fast enough.”
Ames warns Carrie that her unique expressive gift will fade if she uses it only for personal gratification rather than for art.
This warning stirs Carrie's conscience and prompts her to reconsider her career choices.
“The world is full of desirable situations, but, unfortunately, we can occupy but one at a time. It doesn't do us any good to wring our hands over the far-off things.”
Ames reminds Carrie that while many opportunities exist, one cannot pursue them all and should not lament what is out of reach.
This pragmatic observation contrasts with Carrie's romantic longing, grounding her in reality.