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Chapter 13
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in McTeague, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Greed and Self-Destruction
Naturalism
Gender Stereotypes
Class Struggle
Isolation vs. Connection
Summary
Analysis
McTeague and Trina go looking for a new, more affordable apartment. However, McTeague does not want to live as cheaply as Trina. The apartment Trina wants to rent is small and rundown. Still, Trina insists that it is the only thing they can afford. At this, McTeague grows angry and begins another argument about Trina’s miserliness. However, Trina will not give in. She insists that the $5,000 is her money, and he does not get to choose what to do with it. Additionally, Trina reminds him that, at least for the moment, he is out of work. Therefore, he cannot afford to pay for anything and should not get a say in where they live.
McTeague’s unemployment only exacerbates the problems that have always existed in his marriage. Despite being married, Trina does not think her money belongs to McTeague and, as such, she does not allow him any control over it. However, at this point, Trina’s miserliness reaches an absurd level. She wants to sacrifice her current quality of life so she can continue to hoard her money and never use it, even when her family is hurting. This shows how social constructs, like the importance of accumulating wealth, can work against a person’s self-interest.
Themes
Ultimately, Trina decides to rent the apartment regardless of what McTeague thinks. She knows that, in addition to renting the apartment, she can continue contributing to her savings, which has almost reached $300, though McTeague thinks it is less. However, before Trina can move, she needs to sell all the items in McTeague’s place that they will no longer need. She does not want to give up many of her things, but she feels she has no choice.
Trina’s unilateral decision to rent the apartment and her focus on saving money emphasize her dominant role in financial matters. Even treasured possessions do not matter to Trina, as she is willing to sacrifice them if it means she gets to keep her wealth. At this point, she only has the money for the sake of having it. It serves no practical function.
Themes
However, getting McTeague to give up his personal items is a different story. McTeague wants to keep every item in his office, particularly his concertina and his caged canary. No matter what Trina says, he will not put them up for sale. While Trina and McTeague are clearing out McTeague’s office, a young dentist (who McTeague calls the Other Dentist) knocks on the door. McTeague has always envied the dentist, who is much younger and more worldly than McTeague, so his presence makes McTeague angry. The Other Dentist asks McTeague if he can buy the gilded tooth now that McTeague is going out of business. McTeague tells the Other Dentist to go away, as he is uninterested in the man’s offer.
McTeague’s attachment to his personal items and refusal to sell them sharply contrasts Trina’s behavior. To McTeague, his personal items hold a place in his heart that cannot be assigned a monetary value. Additionally, McTeague’s anger at the Other Dentist reflects the sense of indignity he feels at being forced out of business. The gilded tooth is the crowning achievement of McTeague’s career, and, even though that career is now gone, he refuses to let go of what is once was.
Themes
On the way out the door, the Other Dentist mentions McTeague’s lack of a diploma, which makes McTeague realize that everyone knows why he has to close down his shop. For McTeague, this feels like one final indignity. On the day of the sale, the McTeagues sell almost everything. The only thing remaining, which no one wanted, is Trina’s wedding bouquet.
The mention of McTeague’s lack of a diploma by the Other Dentist indicates that people know why McTeague had to shut down his business. McTeague’s realization that his professional downfall is common knowledge exacerbates his sense of shame and defeat.
Themes
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