Social Darwinism: Mcteague And Trina

Social Darwinism is the concept of applying Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection to humanity. Therefore, human social organization would be based on survival of the fittest and that certain races or classes survive because they are biologically superior. Frank Norris, author of McTeague, used naturalist writing to express his idea of Social Darwinism at work in society. Frank Norris wanted to show that one shall remain in the social class in which they were born in order to survive. McTeague and Trina both climb the social ladder, but their inability to adapt to an abrupt change in their status led to their regression back to their former lives. Unlike McTeague and Trina, Old Grannis and Miss Baker were able to survive because they

Although McTeague and Trina were of European ancestry, the biologically superior race according to Social Darwinism, they were not immune to the theory of Social Darwinism. They both grew up in poor families and did not have experience with managing finances. Mining was McTeague’s natural occupation, but he became a dentist to make more money and join a higher class. Trina’s life changed when she won the lottery and saw that climbing the social ladder was possible. This money gave them the hope to have an expensive wedding and a nice place to live. They saw their lives coming together perfectly. However, conflict came because they both did not understand how to handle the money or class due to their poor upbringings. Trina’s frugal habits worsened when she became obsessive over the money. Trina would not give McTeague any money and this drove him to become greedy. McTeague had the mindset that if they had the money they should be able to spend it when they wanted. Overtime, Trina regressed back to poverty, living in low-quality houses. McTeague’s greediness and drunken anger led him to kill Trina when she refused to give him money. McTeague then found himself back at the Big Dipper mine living out his natural occupation. McTeague and Trina were not able to adapt and therefore, regressed back to their original occupation and state of poverty. Frank Norris shows that their human

Old Grannis and Miss Baker spent their lives filling their voids with love. For many years, they lived next to each other with only a wall separating them. They were embarrassed when they saw each other and spoke. However, deep down, they loved each other. Secretly, they enjoyed sitting next to each other, with only a wall separating them. Old Grannis would bind books and Miss Baker would sit and drink a cup of tea. Prosperity came when Old Grannis was awarded money for his invention that he used to bind books. Old Grannis did not seek to make more money but he stuck to a routine that came natural to him. He was rewarded for doing so and remained contently in his social class. As a result, Old Grannis no longer needed to sit and bind books while Miss Baker drank her tea. This caused Miss Baker to offer Old Grannis a cup of tea and the two to become acquaintances. Overtime, they grew more in love that was based off of a true friendship. This would not have been possible if they tried to ignore what society saw as necessary for them to survive. They were free of greed and hate, choosing to pursue true love. Frank Norris shows that in order to survive one must be biologically superior along with knowing their place in