The Reversal of Male/Female Roles in Dreiser's Sister Carrie The novel Sister Carrie appears to be the platform from which Dreiser explores his unconventional views of the sexes. In the world of Sister Carrie, it would seem that the roles of women as trusting, caring creatures and men as scheming executioners are reversed; it's Carrie who uses the men around her to get what she wants, and it's those men who are her victims. Therefore Dreiser uses this novel as a means to question popular notions of gender and the role it plays in modern society. In Sister Carrie, it would appear that Carrie, while outwardly benevolent, and perhaps even deserving of her portrayal as sweet and innocent at first, soon emerges as a ruthless predator in the guise of a defenseless woman. From her relationship with Drouet she is able to gain the experience and social skills to pursue higher aspirations. He seems to stay with Drouet only long enough to see that better things are available, more extravagant comforts than Drouet can offer, cultural experiences and social nuances of which Drouet seems unaware. Drouet, therefore, serves as a springboard for her. When he has nothing left to offer her, she leaves him in favor of Hurstwood. In Hurstwood, Carrie sees everything Drouet lacks: a keener sense of culture and worldliness, and the richness to explore the new wonders of civilized Chicago life. Hurstwood is another step on her ladder to success, and when she sinks into poverty and disgrace after her divorce, she sees him as an asset that he is no longer, and leaves him to set up his own business, leaving him to turn into a beggar, while she gets big. Furthermore, after she makes it big, and Drouet comes to visit her, she can no longer see him as a friend worthy of her company, and in fact avoids ever seeing him again. The fact that she owes her success to Drouet and Hurstwood seems irrelevant to her. It would also seem at the end of her road to fame, when she receives social invitations from millionaires and famous people, that she considers herself too good for any of them; she considers herself too good for any man's company.