The writer Theodore Dreiser has a lot of excellent books. He colorful and picturesque described the life of America in the late XIX - early XX centuries. He was perfectly able to convey the mood that prevailed then in society. The most famous cycles of his works are considered "American tragedy" and "Trilogy of desire."
Main character
The writer begins the “Trilogy of Desire” with a description of the hero’s childhood and youth. It should be noted with what love Dreiser outlines his character. The financier he turned out to be energetic, enterprising and smart. He combined all the qualities necessary for the embodiment of the most daring ideas. At the same time, the central character also had negative qualities, such as vanity, pride, which he did not fail to use to achieve his goals. His conscience allowed to steal, deceive and substitute. Moreover, having a pleasant appearance, he attracted people, especially women. And they will ultimately lead to his death.
Plot
The events of the novel unfold in Philadelphia. A smart family was born in a large family, who learned to earn his first commission on the docks, waiting for hours waiting for the arrival of cargo ships. Then, as a teenager, he tripled as an assistant in the bakery. He attracted the owner of this enterprise and was able to gain his trust. After the untimely death of the chief, Frank Cowperwood inherited the business.
Plot plot
Having decided that cargo trading wasn’t as profitable as we would like, Frank started playing on the stock exchange and very soon became a successful broker. The deviations from the main narrative that Theodor Dreiser makes are also interesting. The “financier” not only tells the story of the hero, he also describes the basics of the financial system of the United States of America, the work of the exchange, operations with stocks and much more.
Central conflict
Quickly realizing that his financial talents and ability to captivate people will help to achieve what he wants, Cowperwood buys shares of Konka (a type of public transport) and establishes a monopoly on his site. He has to compete with well-known business leaders, rub his trust in them and use their connections.
However, when a fire occurs on the Chicago Stock Exchange in 1871, people panickedly try to sell all their shares, which depreciates the latter. Thus, Frank Cowperwood is in a quandary. Shortly before these events, on the security of his shares, he took half a million dollars from the city and managed to invest this money in the enterprise. For embezzlement he is sent to prison for four years. But in the formation of the prosecution and the sentencing secretly involved a man who wanted to take revenge on Frank.
The personal life of the hero
At twenty-one, a young man in love with his life married Lilian. She was older than him and seemed an unattainable deity. Two children were born from this marriage, but the couple quickly cooled off to each other, because Frank's thirst for life and indefatigable activity could not be combined with the languor, grace and slowness of his wife. Both understood this and did not insist on continuing joint torment. Cowperwood paid money for the maintenance of children, saw them and helped with everything he could. In this regard, he showed himself to be a good father, as far as possible. Perhaps this is precisely the effect Dreiser sought. The novel "Financier" at the same time showed a tough businessman and a lover who was ready for madness for his beloved.
In the winter of 1871, at a dinner with one of the “founding fathers” of the city, Mr. Butler, Frank notices his seventeen-year-old daughter Eileen. They begin to secretly meet, since the girl’s father would not approve of such behavior. This passion and mystery led to the fact that Butler hires a detective to track his daughter, and discovers an unpleasant surprise.
Just at that moment, the fire on the exchange gives the offended parent the opportunity to commit his revenge and put the offender and the molester in prison. But he did not take into account that the daughter also had her own opinion on this matter and categorically did not want to give up her beloved. She bore transfers to him, petitioned for an improvement in the regime and early release. The satisfaction of her requests became possible only after the death of Butler a little more than a year later.
Final transition
The point in this story has not yet been set. The plot spun rapidly and events rained down on the heroes, as Dreiser wanted. The financier should not have lived happily ever after. As soon as he left the prison, he took advantage of the newly emerged panic in the securities market and bought up shares of the railways. This made the former criminal, yesterday's prisoner, a rich and powerful man. His wife gave him the coveted official divorce, and the lovers left for Chicago, where a new life awaited them.
The main idea that Theodor Dreiser wanted to convey to the reader: the financier puts his dreams and goals above all else, only in this case everything turns out. Of course, this cannot be called the right credo of life for readers, but such a position is very characteristic of American citizens of that period.
Criticism
This work, like others, found its reader. Dreiser, whose Financier was supplemented by two more books, was able not only to earn money from his work, but also to attract critics. They were favorable to him, as, however, always. We do not know which person Dreiser chose as a prototype for his hero. The financier, whose reviews were very flattering, turned out to be a colorful character, repulsive and attractive at the same time.
If you want to join the culture of the United States during the Civil War, then you can safely pick up this novel. Using his undisputed talent, Dreiser, whose "Financier" quickly won his place under the literary sun, was able to lure the reader into the world of numbers, money and constant struggle.