McTeague Themes

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…

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…

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…

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…