Examples Of Social Darwinism In Mcteague

At first glance, McTeague seems like a tragic story that was written simply to entertain the reader. But when the story is examined within the context of its time period and common ideals, it becomes evident that Frank Norris is using this novel to comment on the theory of Social Darwinism. This concept applies natural selection to the human race. It is the idea that human social organization is based on the survival of the fittest and that certain class or races dominate because they are biologically superior. Through the characters and circumstances in the novel, Norris makes it very clear that he supports this idea. He shows this through the rise and fall of Trina and McTeague’s love affair that ends in their death and also the greed and selfishness that lead to the demise of Maria and Zerkow. In their highest

Like McTeague, Trina also grew up in poverty. She was the child of immigrants, who at this time were considered to be part of a lower social order. One day, out of the blue, her luck changes when she receives $5,000 dollars. Norris put both of these characters together in a situation that allowed them to move up, or become more fit, in urban society. For a while, McTeague and Trina thrived. They had a nice apartment with three rooms and had a cook that made them supper. However, as Trina’s interest from her $5,000 started to build, she became more and more greedy with her money. She begins to save excessively to point where she steals money from her husband and will not even lend her family $50. This greed is in part because of her background of poverty. She is so used to not having money that her instincts lead her to cherish the money almost to a point of lustfulness. This drives a wedge between her and McTeague. The wedge deepens when McTeague loses his job as a dentist due to a lack of any former schooling. Norris uses these aspects of Trina and