McTeague

Rating:
Summary: A powerful portrayal of greed (in spite of its stereotypes)
Review: Along with Stephen Crane, Frank Norris was one of the earliest writers in American naturalism--a tradition that eventually gave us Sinclair Lewis, Theodore Dreiser, and John Steinbeck. Influenced by social Darwinism and the French realists (especially Zola), their style tends to bluntness and away from romanticism and their view of civilization is marked by grimness. "McTeague" is considered Norris's classic work, and for good reason: its effect on later writers is obvious, and the book represents a shocking, bleak expose of greed and of the bestial nature of human beings.

McTeague is an unschooled, middle-class dentist who marries Trina, a daughter of German immigrants who is also the sweetheart of her distant cousin Marcus. Their lives are irrevocably changed when Trina wins $5,000 from a lottery, and their story is an examination of the resulting greed, miserliness, jealousies, intrigues, abuse, and homicide. Norris's worldview is not entirely gloomy, however: he introduces two endearing and unforgettable characters, Old Grannis and Miss Baker, an elderly couple whose only pleasure in the world is the knowledge of each other's existence on the other side of the shared wall of their two apartments. They are the antithesis of greed, and the simplicity of their desires provide much-needed comic (and, yes, romantic) relief.

The 21st-century reader, however, should be warned that Norris's ethnic stereotypes are not pretty. Zerkow, a Polish Jew, is a parsimonious junk peddler who has "bloodless lips" and "claw-like, prehensile fingers--the fingers of a man who accumulates, but never disburses." He dreams incessantly of gold, and is entranced by the long-lost (and undoubtedly imaginary) gold dinnerware described by a Mexican maid, Maria, whom he eventually marries in order to monopolize her memories of the treasure. Maria herself is a dim-witted and unrepentant petty thief, yet her portrayal is more sympathetic in its evocation of naivety and innocence and suffering. Yet it's difficult to overcome the cringe factor created by Norris's depiction of these two characters. (To confirm that I was not overreacting, I searched the Web and found that, unfortunately, these passages are cited or reprinted gleefully and favorably on a number of anti-Semitic and neo-Nazi sites.)

Happily, the remainder of the novel's characters are not so one-dimensional, yet all the main characters turn out to be, in their own way, as narrow-minded and greedy as Zerkow and Maria. There are two ways to see the disparity in the presentation of these characters. Critics tend to point out the Zerkow is presented first, as the archetype of greed--and that the remainder of the novel shows how McTeague, Trina, and Marcus are as greedy as Zerkow--or as "greedy as a Jew." The more charitable analysis reverses the perspective: that Norris mitigates his representation of Zerkow by demonstrating, in effect, that he is no different than anyone else--that all humans are basically brutes (a word Norris uses often).

Norris's novel is above all a stark condemnation of human baseness. The various characters pursue their inescapable and expected demise, and the suddenness and shock of the ending is breathtaking. The power of the novel's underlying message ultimately overwhelms its dated bigotry, and "McTeague" is still a must-read for anyone interested in American literature.

Rating:
Summary: A good story of how the society corrupt an innocent man.
Review: Frank Norris explained in "Mcteague" how uncontrollable forces are crafting the characters' destinys. For example, Norris explained that Mcteague loved Triana less after Triana first kissed him as a natural rule of human relationship. Other examples are that Mcteague murdered his wife because he let the beast in him dominates, and Triana lived in poverty even though she has five thousand dollar because her strong uncontrollabe desire to save did not let her use the money. "McTeague" holds the readers' interest by having suspense and descriptive language. It is a fun book to read.

Rating:
Summary: Also A Silent Film
Review: I recently completed a film class. And while the rest of the class groaned at the required viewing of silent films, I warmed up to the story of McTeague. The silent film version was called "Greed".

Since that's basically what the book chronicles. The plot circles around, of course, the plight of Mac and Trina to reach the upper crust of society, but I believe some of the major conflict arises between the main characters and their inner drive to simply 'have more'.

I'm not sure if the book includes this reference but there was a bird cage that the film highlighted. It was one of the things that served as a symbol for greed. It was the only thing that was colored in the film, and it was bright gold. Mac wouldn't get rid of it even though they were living in a slum. Trina wouldn't even buy fresh meat simply so she could keep a few pennies for herself. Instead she bought old rotting meat. Yuck.

I just thought I'd let you people know that its also a silent film. The film was edited into a time period of maybe 2 and 1/2 hours. Maybe 3, I'm not sure. But Silent film is generally of epic proportions. They just didn't like to edit back then I guess.

Rating:
Summary: Realism; not once, not twice, but thrice over!!
Review: I, like at least one other reviewer below, first heard of Frank Norris while rummanging the bookstore. After finishing McTeague, it puzzles me how I made it to age 25, through high school and college American Lit courses without reading him! Maybe I'm bold but I enjoyed this book more than any Hawthorne, Steinbeck or Twain.

This book is realism thrice over. The first 'realism' is coventional. Norris in the vain of the French realists writes a novel exploring people with complete human imperfections. From the feeble-witted McTeague (Norris never gives us his first name) to his avaricious wife Trina, we are introduced to a cast of characters who fuction the way people do. And unlike today's 'realist' literature that tries to be shocking for shock value, Norris is nothing but sincere.

The second 'realism' is Norris's refreshing 'fly on the wall' approach. Unlike fellow realists like Dreiser and Lewis, Norris does not judge his characters- never commenting or moralizing, just reporting. Through two murders, one rape fantasy and spousal abuse among other things, Norris simply tells it as it 'happens.'

The third 'realism' is in the language, both that of the characters and the novelist. It is always said that Hemingway was the one who taught us that descriptively, less is more. Now I see that there would have been no Hemingway without Norris. He is sparse and terse, giving the novel a life-like tone. The characters tend to stammer ("Yeah- uh- uh- yeah, that's the word") reflecting the way we really talk.

This is not Henry James, Edith Wharton or Harriet Stowe. It is a gritty tale set in 1890's San Francisco with an ending that will leave you in nothing less than shock. Before Raymond Carver, Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck, there was Frank Norris and McTeague.

Rating:
Summary: An interesting thesis on realtionships and the middle class.
Review: I must admit that I was at first reluctant to read Frank Norris' McTeague on account of its not- so-breathtakingly-exotic title. But now that I have finished reading the book, I must say that McTeague has to be one of the finest writings on the plight of the middle class I have ever read. Set in the slummy streets of San Francisco, the book centers around a degree-less dentist named McTeague and covers the various the ups and downs of his miserable life. The book is kept mildly entertaining due to Norris' consistant introduction of new conflicts and events in successive chapters. Aside from the plot and characters, the book is also a very interseting thesis on human sexual roles by Norris. It proves to be entertaining due to Norris eloquent amalgum of sulleness, humor, and irony. The book's main negative is its haphazard pace. Progressing very slowly in some chapters and snowballing in others, the book is for the reader who prefers varity of pace over steadiness. Despite its creative shortcomings, the book succeeds in educating the reader about the difficult and disturbing lives of the lower-middle-class.

Rating:
Summary: San Francisco's Greed
Review: McTeague is Frank Norris's first novel and was published in 1899. It is the tragic story of a man who practices dentistry without a license and marries a girl who won $5000 in a lottery but keeps it all to herself. The first few years of their marriage are pleasant; the only negative thing is that his friendship with Marcus is over. He wanted to marry Trina, McTeague's wife and Marcus' niece, but did not get her. He tells the authorities and then the life of Trina and McTeague goes down. Without ever using money of the $5000 McTeague loses his practice and they grow apart. He starts hitting and abusing her and in the end does the most horrible thing. First she is maimed, later killed. McTeague flees and in off all places Death Valley meets Marcus again. Things can now be settled once and for all..

The book, though over a century old, is still very readable. The main theme seems to be greed, in fact a movie was made long ago called Greed, based on this novel. Set in San Francisco everyone is greedy and people even kill for money, everyone is suspicious that they are keeping secrets and are not telling everyone about the money they really possess. Greed leeds in the end to death. Also in Death Valley...

Rating:
Summary: Also A Silent Film
Review: I recently completed a film class. And while the rest of the class groaned at the required viewing of silent films, I warmed up to the story of McTeague. The silent film version was called "Greed".

Since that's basically what the book chronicles. The plot circles around, of course, the plight of Mac and Trina to reach the upper crust of society, but I believe some of the major conflict arises between the main characters and their inner drive to simply 'have more'.

I'm not sure if the book includes this reference but there was a bird cage that the film highlighted. It was one of the things that served as a symbol for greed. It was the only thing that was colored in the film, and it was bright gold. Mac wouldn't get rid of it even though they were living in a slum. Trina wouldn't even buy fresh meat simply so she could keep a few pennies for herself. Instead she bought old rotting meat. Yuck.

I just thought I'd let you people know that its also a silent film. The film was edited into a time period of maybe 2 and 1/2 hours. Maybe 3, I'm not sure. But Silent film is generally of epic proportions. They just didn't like to edit back then I guess.

Rating:
Summary: Remorseless, brutal, utterly necessary
Review: Some aspects of McTeague are a little on the amateurish side; it can be psychologically clumsy, and some of the symbolism seems a bit labored (hey, Norris was in his twenties, whaddaya expect?). This, however, is irrelevant, because, truly, it is the most visceral novel I've read in ages, pulling no punches, and with easily the most nightmarish ending I've ever encountered in a 'realistic' novel (whatever you do, don't spoil it for yourself). Norris's single token attempt at lightening the mood is a secondary romantic subplot, but really, you'll be so overwhelmed by the novel's main thread, you'll barely notice.

Norris was heavily, heavily influenced by Zola, and it shows on ever page. And, while his writing might not be up to that of The Man at his height (though if he hadn't died at thirty-two...the mind reels at the possibilities), he nonetheless displays all of Emile's best tendencies: the talent for atmosphere, the firm refusal to ever relent, the simply-drawn but deeply memorable characters...it's all there. Written in English, by an American. One of those things that might contribute to my being proud of my country, if not for various other issues.

Seriously, dudes and dudesses...it's difficult for me to imagine how one could fail to be awestruck by this novel. Anyone interested in American fiction, naturalism, or just kickass writing in general should most definitely not miss it.

Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest American novels.
Review: This story was written in 1899. It is about Macteague, a dentist operating a clinic in a flat, which doubles as his residence, in a lower middle class neighborhood in San Fransisco. Macteague is not a licensed dentist. He learned the trade by being an assistant to a quack dentist who rescued him from a miserable life slaving at the Big Dipper mine in Nevada. His intellectual faculties seem to have been considerably dulled by his hard life.

Well his existence is permanently shattered by the appearance of Miss Trina Sieppe, cousin and love interest of his best friend Marcus Schouler. Macteague has not had much experience with women before this and seems to be scared of them but she fully awakens the sex instinct in him. One day he is so much overcome by her youthful, girl-next-door beauty that he cannot restrain himself from briefly kissing and caressing her while she is unconscious in the dental chair under Novocain. He clumsily asks her to marry him sometimes after this and this scares her greatly but after a while they become friends. Macteague admits to Marcus his affection for Trina and Marcus yields her to Macteague with a magnanimity that does not last long.

Well Trina and Mac eventually become an item. Macteague again forces himself on her, this time when she is conscious, while they are sitting along at a bus station and after some resistance she yields herself to him, apparently out of a perverse need to be possessed by a big strong man. Macteague is indeed a very huge blond haired and mustached man with a big "square-cut head" and "salient jaw" and "mallet-like fists." Norris never tires of mentioning this. Macteague is in brief the very specimen of raw nordic manhood.

Well, this period of their courtship may contain the best writing of the book. We meet Trina's parents, with their thick German accents. There is the scene at the park where Mr. Sieppe and Trina's younger brother August quarrel violently. There is the scene at the theater where Macteague laughs heartily at the bad comedic performances and where August (or Owgooste as Norris begins to call him in imitation of how Mr. and Mrs Sieppe with their thick accents pronounce his name) wets himself.

Well, just before they are married Trina wins 5,000 dollars in a lottery. This releases an insane jealousy in Marcus for he could be Trina's husband and have that money if he hadn't ceded her to Macteague. Several violent incidents between the two follow over the next few years.

Well, one day after they have had several happy years of marriage, they are visited by Marcus who seems unusually friendly and says that he is going down to southeastern California to become a rancher. Well, shortly after, Macteague receives notice in the mail that the city government has discovered that he has been practicing for years without a lisence and orders him to stop. Trina suspects that Marcus alerted the authorities to this before he left.

Well things really go down hill after this. Trina's fetish for hoarding her money in her trunk below her wedding dress explodes and she lies to Macteague about the state of their finances. She herself makes some money by making Noah's Ark animals for her rich uncle's wholesale toy store. She refuses to disburse any money to him, a pathological miser she has become and he takes to hitting her and grabbing her fingers and chewing on them to make her give him money. They have long since moved out of the dental quarters to a much cheaper flat in the same building and they eventually move into a room in the house of Zerkow, the late junk dealer. It is there that Mac steals her money in her trunk and runs off...Well to make a long story short, at the end of the story Trina is dead and Macteague is fleeing through the Southwestern desert , even running away from a gold find that he helps make with a man he meets at a rural California Diner. Most poignantly, he will not give up his old canary in its gilt cage, the only thing he has from his remaining from his prosperous days. He carries it along with him, along with Trina's old lottery money. He has some vague visceral feeling that the police are on his heels. He ends up trying to travel through the Valley of Death Desert, trying to reach Mexico, where he runs into Marcus who.....in any case

Norris describes his characters and their actions with great vividness and reality. The last part of the novel is rather slow reading but Norris's description of Macteague's hopeless flight through the indescribably vast and infernal deserts of the SW U.S. is really well crafted. The novel for its first two-thirds centers around life at the apartment building and features additional characters like Old Grannis and Miss Baker and Maria Macapa, the Latina maid of the building. Maria marries Zerkow the junk dealer who eventually kills her.

Rating:
Summary: Hidden Masterpiece
Review: This is, hands down, the best book I have read in all of my 10 years in college. It was first forced upon me in American Realism 340, alongside Chopin and Dreiser, but Norris shined above them all. The characters are incredible over the top examples of the absurd, brilliant in their simplicity and endearing because of their sincerity. The story is unpredictable, the ending is shocking, brutal, and will stick with you. There is so much to think about and decipher: ie. McTeague's canary, Marcus, the old couple; every facet of this book is fascinating, every page inticing. It had me up till four in the morning finishing it. An addictive treasure I recommend to everyone.