Mcteague Link

Norris presents McTeague as a "human beast," suggesting that beneath the veneer of civilization lies a primitive animal controlled by hereditary "vices" (like McTeague’s inherited alcoholism).

The characters are products of their environment. The suffocating atmosphere of Polk Street and the desolate void of Death Valley mirror the characters' internal decay. McTeague

is consumed by a sense of entitlement over the money he feels he "gave away" by introducing McTeague to Trina. Norris presents McTeague as a "human beast," suggesting

The turning point occurs when Trina wins $5,000 in a lottery. This sudden wealth acts as a catalyst for destruction: McTeague