When Xiangzi came to Beijing the rickshaw, for their own ideal struggle, hard work for three years, raised one hundred dollars, bought a rickshaw dream. Since the accident, a car carrying the man was arrested when police men hope that the first burst.
No matter how bad, Xiangzi did not give up, Xiangzi had to pull the car to buy camel, dawn, live frugally to save money to buy a new car. But doing monthly, for all the money to be stolen, Xiangzi wants to have a burst.
Xiangzi returned to the car factory has been preoccupied by some troubles is more than 11 in the evening, a few glasses of wine was Tigress lure, and then she slept together. Oh Xiangzi marry Tigress, Tigress cheaply bought Xiangzi neighbor two hadron car, Xiangzi once again ignited hope. Pregnant Tigress not love activities, eat snacks, leading to the fetus is too large, the result died. In order to give her funeral, Xiangzi forced Xiangzi to sell the car, all white do.
After three three falls, Xiangzi has lost his confidence in life. He has become numb, and cunning, good cheap, Chihepiaodu, becomes a dead-alive person. A first - class driver, who was so strong, still didnt struggle out of a tragic fate. Xiangzi is the epitome of the poor working people in the old society. He reflects the hardships and helplessness of the living people of the old society.
The camel Xiangzi expresses the authors deep sympathy for the working people, and also reveals the exploitation and oppression of the old and honest society by the dark old society.
来到北平当人力车夫的祥子，为了自己的理想努力奋斗，苦干了三年，筹足了一百块钱，买了一辆梦寐以求的洋车。由于遭遇不测，有一次连人带车被宪兵抓去当壮丁，希望第一次破灭。
无论环境多恶劣，祥子也没有放弃，祥子把骆驼买去，平明拉车，省吃俭用攒钱买新车。但在干包月时，被搜捕到的钱全部被抢去，祥子希望有一次破灭。
心事重重的祥子回到车厂已经是晚上11点多，被虎妞几杯酒引诱，便和她睡在一起了。虎妞呵祥子成亲后，虎妞以低价给祥子买了邻居二强子的车，祥子的希望再一次点燃。怀孕的虎妞不爱活动、爱吃零食，导致胎儿过大，结果难产死去。为了给虎妞办丧事，祥子逼迫卖掉了车，祥子的努力全白做了。
经历了三起三落，祥子已经失去了生活的`信心。他已经变成了麻木，潦倒，狡猾，好占便宜，吃喝嫖赌，自暴自弃的行尸走肉。一个曾经是那么要强的头等车夫，最后却还是没有挣扎出悲惨的命运。祥子是旧社会贫苦劳动人民的缩影，他反映了旧社会劳动人民生活苦难与无奈。
《骆驼祥子》一文表达了作者对劳动人民的深切同情，同时也揭露黑暗旧社会对淳朴善良的劳动者的剥削、压迫。