The stoic / Theodore Dreiser.
Contributors: Dr.Ratan Bhattacharjee
Publisher: World Pub. Co.
Published: 1947
Place of publication: Cleveland; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 310
First sentence: The Stoic is the last volume of Theodore Dreiser's 'Trilogy of Desire'.
Description: The Stoic is the last volume of Theodore Dreiser's 'Trilogy of Desire'. It is the only work in which Dreiser is concerned with the Vedanta thoughts of Indian philosophical school. The novelist in his two earlier novels The Financier and The Titan raised a few questions about the materialistic satisfaction in the life of the protagonist, Cowperwood.  But in this concluding novel of the Trilogy Dreiser depicts the prevalent stereotypes of the East West dichotomy. Berenice Fleming went to India which is a land of contrasts. Spiritual wisdom goes side by side with poverty and misery. The affluent society of America requires such wisdom. Berenice discovers this truth by going to India where she takes rest for four years. From the Western teachers one can learn of art and sciences , but from the Eastern masters one will discover the inner mystery of wisdom. This is where Cowperwood's search proves futile. But Berenice's quest leads her to India and spiritual awakening. Dreiser had a personal copy of the Bhagavad Gita .In this book he got lessons regarding social service and philanthropy on the one hand and on the other the consciousness about the Greater Soul . Berenice after her return from India reflects on the role of the individual in social upliftment. She gained spiritual sustenance  and returned to America to give physical sustenance to the poor. This is a great teaching for the selfish Cowperhood who is led to the path of renunciation. Helen was the force behind  Dreiser's introduction to Eastern beliefs.She had expressed her wish to visit India to study Hinduism properly She took Dreiser to Swami Prabhavananda's Vedanta Center in Los Angeles to know if they were right in their expression of the Vedanta. In The Stoic there is the discussion on the distinct difference between the physical body and the immortal soul. The teachings of the Guru explain contrast between the perishability of the physical and immutability and eternity of the Soul.
Notes: The 3d vol. of the author's trilogy, the 1st of which is The financier, and the 2d, The Titan.