75 pages • 2 hours read
Frank NorrisA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
McTeague by Frank Norris, follows the life of McTeague, a dull and brutish dentist in San Francisco whose life unravels after he marries Trina Sieppe, a woman who wins a $5,000 lottery. Their struggle for financial security brings out their greed and leads to violence and destruction, reflecting the Naturalist themes of humans being driven by primal instincts and societal forces. The narrative includes instances of sexual assault and domestic violence.
Reviews for Frank Norris's McTeague highlight its gritty portrayal of human nature and San Francisco's tenderloin district at the turn of the century. Critics praise its vivid characters and naturalistic style. However, some find its depiction of greed and violence disturbing and its prose occasionally overwrought. Overall, McTeague remains a powerful study of societal issues.
Readers who would enjoy McTeague by Frank Norris typically appreciate gritty, naturalistic novels that explore human greed and downfall. Fans of Emile Zola's Germinal and Theodore Dreiser's Sister Carrie would find similar themes of social struggle and moral ambiguity compelling. Ideal for those drawn to realistic depictions of turn-of-the-century life.
Recommended
Lexile Level
890LAmerican Literature
Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Naturalism