McTeague

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McTeague

• Naturalistic Traits

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• His narrow point of view was at once enlarged
  and confused. . .The male, virile desire in him
  tardily awakened, aroused itself, strong and
  brutal. It was resistless, untrained, a thing
  not be held in leash an instant. (Chapter 2)

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• His confusion shows the human inability to
  comprehend the forces around him.
• His description is that of an animal acting on
  instinct.

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• Below the fine fabric of all that was good in
  him ran the foul stream of hereditary evil. .
  .The vices and sins of his father and of his
  fathers father, to the third and fourth and five
  hundredth generation, tainted him. The evil of
  an entire race flowed in his veins. Why should
  it be? He did not desire it. Was he to blame?
  (Chapter 2)

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• This quote shows Darwins idea of biological
  determinism. His vices were determined by
  biology.

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• But McTeague could not understand this thing.
  It had faced him, as sooner or later it faces
  every child of man but its significance was not
  for him. To reason with it was beyond him. He
  could only oppose to it an instinctive stubborn
  resistance, blind, inert. (Chapter 2)

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• The naturalistic view of human beings is that of
  animals in the natural world, responding to
  environmental forces and internal stresses and
  drives, none of which they can control or
  understand.

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• Oh, pals is all rightbut five thousand
  dollarsto have played it right into his
  handsGod damn the luck!

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• Human beings are seen as the victims of destiny
  or fate.

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• Suddenly the animal in the man stirred and woke.
  . .he leaned over and kissed her grossly, full on
  the mouth.

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• Frank in the portrayal of human beings as animals
  driven by fundamental urgesfear, hunger, and
  sex.

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• I didnt use to be so stingy. Since I won the
  lottery Ive become a regular little miser. Its
  growing on me, but never mind, its a good fault,
  and anyhow, I cant help it. (Chapter 10)

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• This could be seen as the pressure of economic
  forces leading to greed.
• Or it could be seen as Freudianher subconscious
  self is exerting control.
• Trina struggling with forces she cannot control.

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• Oh, Mac, youve got to quit. You cant go on.
  They can make you stop. Oh, why didnt you go to
  a dental college? Why didnt you find out that
  you had to have a college degree?

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• McTeague is a victim of lifes vicious trap.

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• What strange sixth sense stirred in McTeague at
  this time? What animal cunning, what brute
  instinct clamored for recognition and obedience?
  What lower faculty was it that roused his
  suspicion, that drove him out into the night a
  score of times between dark and dawn, his head in
  the air, his eyes and ears keenly alert?

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• Portrayal of human beings as animals driven by
  fundamental urgesin this case his instincts are
  leading him in his flight.

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• Marcus was dead now McTeague was locked to the
  body. . .McTeague remained stupidly looking
  around him.

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• The ending is pessimistic about human
  capabilities. McTeague will not survive. Also,
  another reference to the uncomprehending nature
  of humans.

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• The half-dead canary chittering feebly in its
  little gilt prison.

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• Human beings are seen as the victims of destiny
  or fate. The canary in the cage represents
  McTeague. This can also be seen as the related
  idea of life is a vicious trap.