Chapter III explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Greed and Avarice

  Zerkow's obsessive desire for the golden service and Maria's theft of gold illustrate the destructive power of greed.

• Obsession and Possession

  McTeague's obsessive desire for Trina and Zerkow's fixation on the golden service drive their actions.

• Isolation and Loneliness

  Old Grannis and Miss Baker's quiet, separate lives and McTeague's solitary torment highlight themes of loneliness.

Characters to notice

• McTeague

  Tormented by desire for Trina and jealousy of Marcus; lies awake at night; gives junk to Maria and she steals his gold.

• Maria Macapa

  Collects junk from the flat; steals McTeague's gold; sells junk to Zerkow; tells Zerkow the story of the golden service.

• Zerkow

  Buys junk from Maria; becomes obsessed with her tale of a golden service; suffers from greed and anguish.

• Old Grannis

  Interrupted by Maria while binding pamphlets; reluctantly gives her a yellow pitcher; leaves his door open for Miss Baker.

• Miss Baker

  Sits in her neat room; is visited by Maria; embarrassed when Maria mentions Old Grannis's gift.

Key passages

• “He felt that he was clumsy and ungainly. He told himself that she despised him. But the memory of her was with him constantly. Night after night he lay broad awake thinking of Trina, wondering about her, racked with the infinite desire of her.”

  McTeague believed Trina looked down on him, yet he could not stop thinking about her, lying awake each night consumed by longing.

  McTeague's internal turmoil and obsession with Trina.

• “The story ravished him with delight. He was near someone who had possessed this wealth. He saw someone who had seen this pile of gold. He seemed near it; it was there, somewhere close by, under his eyes, under his fingers; it was red, gleaming, ponderous.”

  Zerkow was thrilled by Maria's story, feeling close to the treasure she described, as if it were almost within his grasp.

  Zerkow's greedy fascination with the golden service.