Mcteague

Greed is defined as the intense and selfish desire for food wealth, or power. In Frank Norris' novel of McTeague the nature of greed is evident throughout the work. Many of the characters such as McTeague, Trina, and Zerkow show numerous situations where greed takes over their lives. These situations where we see greed occurs with money, love and... This essay will be discussing the nature of greed that takes place throughout the novel and supported evidence to support this greed that occurs throughout the work. It would be easy for the reader to think that the greed began once Trina won the lottery, but there are a few incidences where the nature of greed can be found. For example, when McTeague was buying his tickets for the theater. McTeague demands and makes quite obvious that he does not want to sit on the side of the orchestra where the drums will be played.

"I want four seats for Monday night in the fourth row from the front and on the right-hand side."

"Right hand as you face the house or as you face the stage?" McTeague was dumbfounded.

"I want to be on the right-hand side...in order to be away from the drums."

"Well the drums are on the right-hand side of the orchestra as you face the stage...you want to be on the left, then, as you face the house."

"I want to be on the right-hand side," persisted the dentist, ( McTeague, 74).

As McTeague carries on further with the ticket man about the tickets, he gets extremley persistent and demanding. McTeague greedy self caused him to not only put on a scene with the ticket man but also show his intense desire of power. Even though he simply wants tickets away from the drums because

it will bother is head the way he deals with this situation makes him look like a greedy fool. This will be the first of many occasions where we will see this character act out in the nature of greed.

Throughout the novel we see many incidence surrounding the aspect of money and gold. Sometimes when people receive a large sum of money they tend to let it all go to their head. They will spend their money on matericalistic accessories. The relationships they had with friends or family can drasticly change for the worse. Once greed takes over a person there is no telling what they will do or what obstacles they will knock out of their way. Once Trina won her $5,000 with her winning lottery ticket her whole life changed. Like anyone that would win money, you would think that great fortune is to come, but what Trina thought was good fortune to come became absolute misfortune.

There is an incident in the novel where Trina and McTeague were looking to rent a bigger home to live in. McTeague took it upon himself to sign the paper work to claim the house theirs. The cost of the house is $35.00 a month. Trina thought this was not a reasonable price, therefore she continued to do her research on the home finding out that the water was in the basement. But this information was unless to her since McTeague surprises her with having signed the papers without her knowing. Her reaction to McTeague was not plesant, she was upset and furious that he would have sign the paper without her consent. She goes on to say that she will not move into that house because of the water was the basement. McTeague's reaction to Trina was simply to pay the $35.00 even if they didn't plan on moving in the house.

During this time we see both characters showing the nature of greed that takes place throughout this novel. Trina is showing her greed because the house isn't good enough because the water is in the basement. "I've changed my mind about it, and there's water in the basement besides," (161). The water in the basement could be a unhealthy situation but Trina's reaction to McTeague shows us her selfishness and greed. McTeague just trying to be a husband with a surprise for his wife wasn't good enough for her to appreciate. Not only do we see Trina showing her greed at this time, we also see McTeague act in the same way. To McTeague, it's not a big deal to pay the rent for the month. He says that they can afford to throw away $35.00. To him this is not a lot of money, he believes we can just pay the month and that's the end of it, in McTeague's mind. Trina's reply to his thoughts for paying the $35.00 is, "Thirty-five just thrown out the window...Oh, you are the thick-wittedest man that I ever knew. Do you think we are millionaires? Oh, to think of losing thirty-five dollars like that...Well I won't pay a nickel of it," she exclaimed, (161).

Greed not only effects these character as indivuals within themselves but also in their personal relationships with others. For instance, Trina, who is seen in the first half of the book as very loving and caring of her mother. But her greed for money and power turns her into a selfish witch. "Trina put off sending this money for a couple of weeks, and her mother made no mention of it in her next letter...So