Stoicism

Author: Dreiser
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2005-05-01
Features: This novel is a masterpiece written by the renowned American realist writer Dreiser in his final days. It is the last part of his famous "Trilogy of Desire." The "giant" of the American financial world, Copperwood, devoted his entire life to pursuing money, power, status, fame, and women. He went to great lengths, employing all means necessary, but once he passed away, the financial empire he had painstakingly built quickly crumbled, leaving all his wealth, achievements, and fame as nothing. Dreiser depicts the materialistic American society of a century ago and the destinies of its characters—this is the greatness of the world-renowned author, and this is the charm of world literature classics. As the last part of the "Trilogy of Desire," Stoic concludes the final fate of the protagonist, the American financial tycoon Copperwood. At the beginning of the story, the protagonist Copperwood is immersed in the frustration of his failure, but when the beautiful and intelligent Berenice, whom he had long admired, embraces him, he regains his former vitality. Thus, he and this beloved woman begin to plan for a comeback: to go to London to carve out a new future. With his financial talent and the skillful expertise and strategies honed over decades in the Chicago financial world, he quickly establishes a pivotal position in London's public transportation sector. However, just as his subway business in London is at its peak, his health begins to fail. Soon after, this giant departs from the world, leaving behind all the things he had pursued throughout his life—desire, money, status, fame, and women. Yet, the story does not end with his death. What he could never have imagined while alive is that the towering financial empire he had painstakingly built would crumble within just three or four years after his passing, vanishing into nothingness. The woman who loved him—his wife and executor of his estate—also dies in sorrow shortly after. Berenice, who had been deeply connected to him, gains new insights into life from his story, her own life, and the lives of others in society—especially the lower classes—realizing that money, status, and sensory pleasures are insignificant in the face of compassion. Perhaps this is the personal reflection of the aging novelist himself.