Sister Carrie: Chapter 40 Summary & Analysis

The next morning, Carrie apologizes to Hurstwood. Hurstwood relates that he “[doesn’t] care,” feeding Carrie’s indifference towards him. He grows to hate asking Carrie for money and, consequently, runs up a $16 grocery bill. He begins to switch grocers and butchers to avoid the bills, all unbeknownst to Carrie. September passes in this way. Carrie asks several times about the hotel that Hurstwood’s friend is opening and every time Hurstwood tells her that his friend “won’t do it before October.” Carrie becomes disgusted with Hurstwood and spends more time out visiting and shopping.

Carrie’s opera plans to depart in two weeks. She applies at another company and gets a job at twenty dollars a week, which assuages her gloomy feelings: “She began to feel that she had a place in the world. People recognised ability.” Carrie’s state is “so changed” that the poverty and dreariness of life at the apartment seems impossible. Carrie only sleeps there and does “a fair amount of work” to keep it in order. Hurstwood spends his time sitting and reading: “he folded his hands and waited—for what, he could not anticipate.” Soon, it is winter.

One day, Oeslogge the grocer comes to claim his bill. Carrie answers the door and is shocked to learn that they owe sixteen dollars. This sort of “bad and commonplace” occurrence is distressing to both Carrie and Hurstwood. The two argue and Carrie tells Hurstwood that she “oughtn’t […] be made to pay for it.” She goes out and Hurstwood resolves “to do something.”

At this time, there are “rumours and notices of an approaching strike on the trolley lines in Brooklyn” in the newspapers. This catches Hurstwood’s eye and he sympathizes with the demands of the workers. One day, after his argument with Carrie, a notice appears, advertising for a motorman position. Despite his sympathies and scruples regarding safety, Hurstwood decides to give the position a try. 

In the morning, Hurstwood puts on his “best clothes, which were poor enough” and gets ready to head to Brooklyn. Carrie, interested in the change, asks him where he is going. After hearing Hurstwood’s answer, Carrie warns him that men have been hurt, but Hurstwood is determined “in a desolate sort of way.” Carrie feels sorry for him. Nevertheless, she sees “the least shadow of what was once shrewd and pleasant” and does not oppose.

Hurstwood leaves before Carrie and makes his way to the office of the railroad building. The day is cold. An officer directs him to the building. Though the officer’s face is “neutral,” “in his heart of hearts, he sympathised with the strikers and hated this ‘scab.’” Hurstwood meets the clerk, who asks if he’s a motorman. Hurstwood replies, “no; I’m not anything.” The clerk gives him a job regardless and gives Hurstwood a card to take to the “barns.” On his way out, officers who had been in strikes before quietly whisper to each other that Hurstwood will “get his fill.”