Since it published in 1915, The “Genius” has gotten unanimous reviews and caused great controversy in the society. The “Genius” was banned and removed from the bookstore and library until 1923 owing to its excessive loving details. Different critics based on different political, moral, ideological, and artistic aesthetic standards make a very different evaluation of The “Genius”. Warren Robert Penn contended in his book Homage to Theodor Dreiser that The “Genius” is a completely disgusting novel (qtd.Lydon,1993:99) and it reflects Dreiser’s creative crisis as a novelist (Riggio,1977:119). McAleer, a famous critic says that: “Dreiser’s The “Genius” is very useful in trying to understand the maturation of an artist” (1968:120). Geber thinks that The “Genius” is deserved to be in the top novel of Dreiser (1992:65). The “Genius” also can be called the exemplary naturalistic novel, for its faithfully recording social vicissitudes and values at the turn of the century in America.

As an important piece of Dresser’s work, The “Genius”, its superficial meaning of the novel is to demonstrate the contradiction between the artist and the environment as well as the conflict between passion and artistic pursuit. However, the deep meaning lies in the question of the fate of art in American society and the corruption and devastation of money in art under consumerism effect. Theodore Dreiser observes the fact that many promising artists have embarked on the path of “art for money”. Dreiser makes an outstanding contribution to the development of American realistic literature.

1.3 Literature Review

1.3.1 Studies in Western Countries

Comments from American have never stopped when The “Genius” published in 1915.Many scholars study The “Genius” from the tragic life of Eugene, the reality of American society and the Eugene’s desire for sexuality. The Cambridge Companion to Theodore Dreiser which collects various essays written by critics from all over the world (Cassuto Leonard et al, 2004). Gerber Philip asserts that the novel truly reproduces the struggle between the fame and the benefit of American artists in the early twentieth Century. He considers that American artists have the right to pursue beauty, but they are stimulated by an unfettered desire, people are often destroyed by the mainstream of society, especially for those people who are weak in self-control (1992:268). It is true to say that almost no one can escape the societal trend and everybody has a desire to live better. But Squires L. Ashley digs out that Dreiser’s The “Genius” from religion point of view, he claims that the main character Eugene try to use Christian Science as a solution to the psychological, philosophical, and moral problem of desire(2013:95-117). Loving Jerome describes that Eugene as a victim of environment, circumstance dictates his fate. Meanwhile, the article revealing Dreiser’s mature ideas of self, masculinity, artistic achievements, and worldly success, are always in the process of formation (2010:84-86).