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Character Analysis of McTeague



Frank Norris's novel McTeague explores the decay of society in the early twentieth century. Set in San Francisco, "a place where anything can happen…where fact is often stranger than fiction" (McElrath, Jr. 447), Norris explores themes of greed and naturalism, revealing the darker side of human psyche. What can be found most disturbing is the way that Norris portrays McTeague, in shocking detail, as nothing more than a brute animal at his core. Norris explores the greed and savage animalism that lurks inside McTeague.
McTeague is first portrayed as a gentle giant. The reader is introduced to McTeague as he sits in his dental parlor, smoking his cigar and drinking his steam beer. He is described as a tall, slowly moving man.
McTeague's mind was as his body, heavy, slow to act, sluggish. Yet there was nothing vicious about the man. Altogether he suggested the draft horse, immensely strong, stupid, docile, obedient (Norris 7).......

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Approximate Word Count: 1553
Approximate Pages: 7 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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