The belief in the superiority of certain people over others was what gave rise to the idea of Social Darwinism. Social Darwinism was started in the late 19th century, and was loosely based off of Charles Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection. Several people believed in this idea at the time, including an American writer by the name of Frank Norris. His belief in Social Darwinism can be seen in his writings, especially in his book McTeague. In, McTeague, several characters who start in the lower class, attempt to leave their current position in life by acquiring more money. The characters failed miserably in their attempt. Frank Norris wrote McTeague to illustrate his belief that people who are born into a lower social class, will remain in that
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Old Grannis and Miss Baker, like all the other four characters, were rejected by all of society. In their case, it was because of how bashful and timid they both were. Both Miss Baker and Old Grannis were infatuated by each other, and they had a strange way of showing it. The two characters never talked to each other, despite living next door to each other and both knew the other’s habits and daily routines. Their strange behaviors were what separated them from the rest of society, however, it was something completely different that separated them from the other main characters. Unlike the other four characters, McTeague, Trina, Zerkow, and Maria, Old Grannis and Miss Baker make no attempt to ever leave their current situation in life. Even after Old Grannis is given a large sum of money for his invention, he does not make any attempt to pursue a higher social status. Instead, he and Miss Baker get married, and the only major change is a door being made in between their two rooms. The two are happily married and are able to live a happy lifestyle, despite still living like lower class citizens. Out of all three couples, Old Grannis and Miss Baker are the only ones who have the ability to say this. Frank Norris believed that a lower class person’s greatest chance at living a satisfying lifestyle is to make the best of what they were already given, rather than seeking what they could never attain, and Old Grannis and Miss Baker were used to prove his
Old Grannis and Miss Baker, like all the other four characters, were rejected by all of society. In their case, it was because of how bashful and timid they both were. Both Miss Baker and Old Grannis were infatuated by each other, and they had a strange way of showing it. The two characters never talked to each other, despite living next door to each other and both knew the other’s habits and daily routines. Their strange behaviors were what separated them from the rest of society, however, it was something completely different that separated them from the other main characters. Unlike the other four characters, McTeague, Trina, Zerkow, and Maria, Old Grannis and Miss Baker make no attempt to ever leave their current situation in life. Even after Old Grannis is given a large sum of money for his invention, he does not make any attempt to pursue a higher social status. Instead, he and Miss Baker get married, and the only major change is a door being made in between their two rooms. The two are happily married and are able to live a happy lifestyle, despite still living like lower class citizens. Out of all three couples, Old Grannis and Miss Baker are the only ones who have the ability to say this. Frank Norris believed that a lower class person’s greatest chance at living a satisfying lifestyle is to make the best of what they were already given, rather than seeking what they could never attain, and Old Grannis and Miss Baker were used to prove his