Greed and Self-Destruction
McTeague initially leads a modest life as an unlicensed dentist in San Francisco. However, his life changes when the woman he is about to marry, Trina Sieppe, wins the lottery. After their marriage, Trina’s obsession with money becomes apparent as she refuses to spend any of her winnings, instead hoarding the coins and deriving a perverse pleasure from merely counting them. Her insistence that they live frugally causes strain in the marriage and contributing…
read analysis of Greed and Self-DestructionNaturalism
McTeague is a key work of naturalism, a literary movement that emerged in the late 19th century. Works of naturalist literature approach their subjects from a detached, scientific perspective to examine how internal and external forces, such as animal instinct or environmental conditions, govern human behavior and effectively determine a person’s fate. Some works of naturalism (and McTeague in particular) incorporate principles of social Darwinism, a movement that emerged in the 19th century which posited…
read analysis of NaturalismGender Stereotypes
McTeague presents a decidedly outdated and often problematic view of gender. The narration tends to describe characters using language such as “the natural male impulse” or “the nature female impulse,” suggesting that there are some distinct ways that men and women behave based on their innate biology. For instance, Trina is initially drawn to McTeague only after he physically overpowers her and forces her to kiss him. Norris describes McTeague’s desire to restrain Trina as…
read analysis of Gender StereotypesClass Struggle
Another key feature of naturalism is its emphasis on lower-class characters and their struggle to survive amid harsh, unforgiving social and economic circumstances. McTeague is a working-class man from a working class background. Though he may practice dentistry, he is unlicensed (he did not attend dental school and has no formal education) and does not make much money. Instead, he occupies a precarious position in which he feels he must always strive for financial stability…
read analysis of Class StruggleIsolation vs. Connection
In McTeague, feelings of social isolation are common among characters, many of whom seek to connect with one another but struggle to do so. McTeague himself is a prime example of a character who experiences such isolation and loneliness. Despite his residence in a bustling city, McTeague is emotionally detached. His interactions are limited and superficial, which makes it difficult for him to form meaningful connections. Even with Marcus, his best friend, McTeague…
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