Carrie's emotional jounery align with Appraisal Theories of Emotion

 Welcome back to my blog! 

"Sister Carrie" is a novel by Theodore Dreiser that has been adapted into various films and stage productions. The character of Carrie Meeber experiences significant emotional changes throughout the story, and her emotions can be analyzed in the context of Appraisal Theories of emotion. 

Appraisal Theories of emotion suggest that our emotions are not purely automatic responses but are rather influenced by our cognitive evaluations of situations. While things happen, the first action in the human mind is not emotion nor cognition, it is appraisal. There are several key components to these theories, including cognitive appraisal, emotional experiences, and physiological actions.

(First time have seen a big hotel, curious to see it.)

Cognitive Appraisal: Carrie's emotional journey in the story can be traced through various cognitive appraisals of her circumstances. At the beginning of the story, she is a young, naive girl who comes to Chicago with dreams of a better life. Her sister "should" have a happy life in Chicago because her sister's letters said so. This city has a lot of instruments that they don't have in Columbia City. Therefore, her initial appraisal of the city is one of hope and opportunity, which leads to positive emotions like excitement and ambition. 

As the story progresses, Carrie's appraisals change. Her sister's husband asked her to pay for housing fees. She lost her job in a sewing factory because she cut her fingers, which meant she couldn't live in her sister's house. She faces poverty and struggles to make ends meet, which leads to negative appraisals of her situation. Her emotions shift to sadness, frustration, and fear as she realizes the harsh reality of urban life. Her emotional experiences align with the appraisal theories, as her changing perceptions of her circumstances drive her emotional experiences.

(the lady on the right is Carrie's sister) 

Physiological Responses: Appraisal theories also consider the role of physiological responses in emotion. Carrie's emotions are often accompanied by physiological changes. For example, when she is excited and hopeful about her acting career(we may talk about this event in later blogs), her heart may race, and she may feel a surge of energy. Conversely, when she faces financial hardship and despair, her body might react with stress-related symptoms like tension, fatigue, or anxiety. These physiological responses/actions are a result of her cognitive appraisals of her circumstances.

Emotional Experiences: As we talked before, Carrie's emotional experiences evolve throughout the story. She experiences a range of emotions, from happiness and hopefulness to sadness and despair. 

In order to understand this theory cleanly, let's take a look at the appraisal process of two events in the story:

Arrival in Chicago:

Primary Appraisal: When Carrie first arrives in Chicago, her primary appraisal is one of hope and opportunity. She sees the big city as a place where dreams can come true. Her initial assessment of the city is positive, as she believes it will provide her with a better life.

Secondary Appraisal: As she explores the city and faces the challenges of finding a job and a place to stay, her secondary appraisal becomes more complex. She evaluates her ability to secure employment and adapt to city life. Her confidence in her prospects initially remains high, contributing to feelings of excitement and ambition.

Emotion: Based on her initial positive appraisals, Carrie experiences emotions like excitement, curiosity, and optimism upon her arrival in Chicago. These emotions drive her actions as she sets out to pursue her dreams.

(on the train to Chicago)

Her Relationship with Drouet:

Primary Appraisal: When Carrie first meets Charles Drouet, a traveling salesman, she initially appraises him as a charming and generous man. She perceives him as a potential source of stability and comfort in her new life in the city.

Secondary Appraisal: As their relationship develops, Carrie's secondary appraisal becomes more nuanced. She evaluates Drouet's willingness to support her financially and the benefits of being with him. She also considers the potential drawbacks, such as the lack of genuine love in their relationship.

Emotion: Initially, Carrie experiences emotions like gratitude and security as she benefits from Drouet's financial support and companionship. However, as she reflects on the nature of their relationship and her desire for more than material comforts, her emotions become conflicted. She may experience a sense of emptiness or dissatisfaction despite the initial positive emotions. (She is pursuing love after being satisfied with food and safety)

(There is no love in her face, but better to call it gratitude.)

These two events exemplify how Carrie's emotions in the story are closely tied to her cognitive appraisals. Her initial positive appraisals of Chicago and her relationship with Drouet lead to positive emotions, while subsequent appraisals and reflections contribute to changes in her emotional experiences.

In summary, Carrie's character in "Sister Carrie" aligns with Appraisal Theories of emotion as her emotions are influenced by her appraisals of her changing circumstances. Her emotional journey reflects the complex interplay between her perceptions, physiological responses, and emotional actions.