Questions About An American Tragedy

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Answered Questions (6)

I had difficulty liking any of the main characters. Anyone else feel this way?

Violina Sure, their flows are brought to the surface. They are hard to love, and I had lots of emotions reading all the way through, a lot of it being disgust…moreSure, their flows are brought to the surface. They are hard to love, and I had lots of emotions reading all the way through, a lot of it being disgust towards their choices and way of being. Nevertheless, it is the whole purpose of the book, and very well achieved I must say.
Even though I am quite a sensitive reader and I do react badly to cruelty and unfairness, I did love the book. I think it was very reflective of the human nature, although selfishness, vanity, greed, lack of values, and immorality are the main traits that are featured, as opposed to other good human qualities.
In the majority of the cases, specially in the case of the main character, I feel like all of it comes from ignorance and it makes you - or it made me anyways- forgive him at times for the horrible things he is always envolved in. Simultaneously I wished to never come across somebody like him in real life :)(less)

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Just finished the book. The ending was out of nowhere and caught me by surprise. What the heck did that ending mean? I suppose the family as described was Clyde's family in an earlier time, that little Russell was Clyde. But the point?

Brett

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what were the names of the people involved in the real life murder in The Adirondacks that was the basis for the book an American Tragedy?

Suzanne See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_... -- there are your answers :-)

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Is this book suitable for a text for ESL students? I am reading this book and enjoy. I like Dreiser`s writing because of his prose. I am not a native English speaker so that I cannot comprehend his writing as a suitable text used for studying English in an advance class. I will appreciate if anyone offers his or her comments. thanks.

LB I taught ESL for many years. We never assigned this book to any ESL students, including advanced. The language is pretty difficult. However, there is …moreI taught ESL for many years. We never assigned this book to any ESL students, including advanced. The language is pretty difficult. However, there is no harm in trying. In the worst case scenario, you'll just put it down. Good luck!(less)

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