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ing become the commodities being bought and sold. What the couples care more about each other’s exchange value, which causes the fragility of their marital relationship. Although Orville and Dorothea’s marriage met their material needs, they didn’t get money by their own efforts, therefore, they always worried that the “scandal” of the original family would influence their position in the family they have established. As a matter of fact, in contemporary America, most of successful marriage was that marriage that can make enough money. In the 20th century America, what makes decisive function is that the economic element rather than love. It indicated that the concept that money decides everything has permeated into the sanctuary of marriage. Because the concept of “money first” has internalized into people’s code of conduct and standards of service, which causes people far away from their real emotional needs. By comparative analyzing on the happy marriage between Solon and Benecia as well as the fragility marriage between Orville and Dorothea, we could see that Dreiser advocated the ideal marital ethical relationship on the basis of love, and condemned snobbish marital relationship on the basis of money.

The second chapter analyzes the inter-generational ethical relationship. Of family ethical relationship, the ethical relationship between parents and children is the important part, which constitutes a specific ethical relationship. “Of a given moral system, as the obligation, the standards are often that the moral subject cannot get rid of in the social moral life. When the moral subjects face these obligations, they almost cannot choose whether or not to perform these obligations but accept these obligations obligatorily. ” (Luo Guojie：186) Taking care of parents and understanding parents is children’s duty. As the son of Rufus and Hannah, Solon concerned material and spiritual needs of their parents, and respected and loved his parents with all his heart. Solon affirmed the intrinsic value of his parents, and respected them; he was affectionate to his father and had harmonious parent-child relationship. However, Solon’s children, especially Orville and Stewart who only concerned their own needs of money and pleasures, they didn’t care for their parents and resist their parents in all aspects. For the influence of commercialization value, the inter-generational ethical relationship got a loss, parents and children face more conflicts rather than reconciliation. Children treat their parents in the criteria of money. This value of utilitarianism severely distorted the inter-generational ethical relationship. By comparative analyzing, it can be seen that what Dreiser affirmed is the inter-generational relationship on the basis of responsibility.

The third chapter analyses the compatriot ethical relationship, that is, brothers and sisters’ relationships. The compatriot ethical relationship is also the important part in the family ethical relationship. Hannah, Solon’s mother, was affectionate and friendly to her little sister, they would help each other when they were in trouble; the two families can get well along with each other. Solon and his little sister were also care for each other and showed selfless dedication to each other. However, there is lack of love and friendship among Solon’s children, they only cared for themselves and ignored other brothers and sisters, especially