Darwinism In Mcteague

The novel McTeague was published in 1899 by the author Frank Norris. A common theme along with many others shown in this novel is Social Darwinism which is shown through many of the couples. Frank Norris used Social Darwinism and Naturalism to show the struggles people dealt with on an everyday basis. Social Darwinism is most simply put as survival of the fittest. Also this novel shows the uglier side of urban society at that time. Frank Norris wrote the novel McTeague not to just show how life was in 1899 in the urban parts of San Frisco but to also show themes of Social Darwinism and greed. He shows the theme of Social Darwinism through the many characters who form relationships during this novel. One of the best examples he uses is the relationship between McTeague and Trina. He shows how trying climb the ladder of social classes when you belong in a certain class can end in tragedy. He does a great job showing this through two specific couples in this story. The relationship of McTeague and Trina shows how the effects of Social Darwinism can destroy a relationship. They started off being a happy couple having little to no problem with one another. After being together for a short while Trina wins the lottery. She received five thousand dollars. This is when the problems …show more content…
For instance a man named Joseph LeConte had a great influence over Frank Norris as a writer. Joseph LeConte talk Frank Norris when he attended the University of California. Norris was impacted by LeConte’s positive teaching of the Darwinist theory. In many of his novels you can see the common theme of man having to deal with brute animal characteristics. You can see this especially in McTeague. The character McTeague is very brute and animal like in many of the things he does. For instance Frank Norris mentions in the novel that he can take a tooth out with his own bare