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McTeague: A Story of San Francisco

Written by Frank Norris

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Psychological fictionDidactic fictionMarried peopleSan Francisco (Calif.)AvariceDentistsMurderers

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About this book

"McTeague: A Story of San Francisco" by Frank Norris is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story follows the life of McTeague, a simple yet physically imposing dentist in San Francisco, who is characterized by his slow thinking and heavy-set build. The novel explores themes of ambition, desire, and the complexities of relationships, illustrated through McTeague's interactions with those around him, particularly his friend Marcus and the love interest Trina Sieppe. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to McTeague's mundane routine on a Sunday, encapsulating his simple pleasures in life, such as eating and drinking beer. After a heavy meal, he reflects on his past working in a mining community and his rise to becoming a dentist, albeit through less-than-traditional means. The introduction of Marcus Schouler, his friend, and later the arrival of Trina Sieppe, adds layers of complexity to McTeague's life, hinting at the brewing emotions and conflicts that will emerge as the story unfolds. McTeague's unremarkable life is disrupted by his growing affection for Trina, leading to potential tensions between him and Marcus, who has his own feelings for her. This opening sets the stage for a narrative rich with social commentary and psychological depth.

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Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in McTeague: A Story of San Francisco, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 10 hours
  • advanced
  • dark
  • grim
  • tragic

Frank Norris's "McTeague: A Story of San Francisco" is a harrowing naturalistic novel chronicling the downfall of a simple, uncultured dentist, McTeague, whose life unravels due to the corrosive effects of greed, envy, and primal instinct. Set against the backdrop of late 19th-century San Francisco, the story follows McTeague's marriage to Trina Sieppe, whose lottery winnings ignite an obsessive avarice that transforms her and poisons their relationship. Driven by Marcus Schouler's vengeful jealousy and societal pressures, McTeague's inherent brutishness emerges, leading to violence, murder, and a tragic, inescapable climax in the California desert. The novel serves as a stark commentary on humanity's susceptibility to base desires when stripped of civilizing influences.

“"It was the animal in the man that Trina had seen, and, by some perversion of her instincts, it was to the animal that she was attracted."”

Key themes

Naturalism and Determinism
Norris's novel is a prime example of literary naturalism, positing that human beings are largely products of their heredity and environment, their actions often dictated by primal instincts and societal forces beyond their control. The characters' descent is portrayed as an inevitable consequence of their inherent flaws and the circumstances that trigger them, suggesting a lack of true free will.
The Destructive Power of Greed and Avarice
The novel vividly illustrates how the desire for wealth, particularly Trina's pathological obsession with her lottery winnings, can corrupt individuals, poison relationships, and lead to moral and physical decay. Greed transforms Trina from a relatively normal woman into a miserly, self-sacrificing recluse, directly leading to her own and McTeague's destruction.
Instinct vs. Civilization
Norris explores the thin veneer of civilization, suggesting that beneath it lies primal, animalistic urges that can erupt when societal restraints are removed or challenged. McTeague, in particular, represents the 'natural man' whose inherent brutishness is barely contained by his simple life, only to emerge violently when provoked by societal pressures and personal frustrations.

Worth discussing

How does Norris's naturalistic philosophy influence the characters' fates? To what extent are McTeague and Trina victims of their circumstances versus their own choices?

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