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Themes In Mcteague

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Hailley Forester January 9th 2018 Adv. American Lit. Period 1 McTeague’s Portrayal and His Deadly Transformation The novel McTeague by Frank Norris is filled with multiple naturalistic themes such as instinct, economic hindrances, fate, survival, violence, and life being unfair. The main character, McTeague, experiences the ideas behind many of these themes. McTeague is an uneducated dentist from a poor family who has opened a dentist shop in San Francisco. His best friend, Marcus Schouler, brings his cousin, Trina Sieppe, whom he is courting, to McTeague 's parlor for dental work. McTeague becomes interested in her while working on her teeth, and Marcus graciously steps aside. Trina 's mother, Mrs. Sieppe, announces that McTeague and Trina are to marry. Shortly after, Trina …show more content…

After his shifting attitude in the middle, McTeague loses his job because of Marcus. McTeague’s wife, Trina does not allow him to use her lottery money to help support them, which aggravates him and also causes them to have to move to a smaller home. Trina becomes more and more miserly. McTeague and Trina’s life together declines. Many more affairs occur so McTeague starts drinking more frequently, often causing him to be violent. “And Trina fearfully saw the palm suddenly contract into a fist” (Norris 236). This continues to show the harmful change in McTeague. Through many struggles, emotionally, financially, and mentally, McTeague just lets go of himself. Then one night McTeague goes to far and he beats Trina to death. This happens because McTeague was drinking again and he becomes obsessed with getting his hands on her money. “But her resistance was one thing to arrive him to the top of his furry” (Norris 294). This shows the finalization of the changing McTeague. After killing Trina, McTeague takes her money and leaves town, this bring him to his drastic transformation of cruel, vicious, and a

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