The shift to politics and Marcus’s superficial understanding of them, coupled with McTeague’s blind agreement, demonstrates their ignorance and their susceptibility to persuasive rhetoric. This reflects their shared lack of critical-thinking skills and their vulnerability to manipulation. The book seems to suggest that the political opinions of the lower class are simplistic messages that someone with more influence has drilled into their heads. Certainly, Marcus does not have any original thoughts of his own. Contemporary critics are critical of author Norris for this reason; he depicts immigrants and the working poor as inherently more stupid and animalistic, championing racist social Darwinist principles that were popular at the time of the book’s writing.