VII explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Greed and Avarice

  The lottery win ignites fantasies of wealth and possession, with characters like Maria and Marcus reacting with envy or covetousness.

• Social Class and Decline

  The celebration highlights the characters' modest social standing; the lottery represents a rare chance to escape their class, though the setting remains humble.

• Isolation and Loneliness

  Old Grannis and Miss Baker's separate but parallel evening rituals underscore their mutual loneliness and the barrier between them.

Characters to notice

• Trina Sieppe

  Wins the lottery and is celebrated; she is joyful and flustered by her sudden fortune.

• McTeague

  Struggles to make a speech during the celebration; he is bewildered but pleased by Trina's win.

• Marcus Schouler

  Acts as a cheerleader, urging McTeague to speak; shows moments of sullenness beneath his enthusiasm.

• Miss Baker

  Sits with Mrs. Sieppe, sharing confidences about Old Grannis; later shares a quiet moment with him through the partition.

• Old Grannis

  Listens to Maria's story about lost gold; later retreats to his room, acutely aware of Miss Baker's presence next door.

• Maria Macapa

  Recalls a tale of a lost golden service, stirred by Trina's sudden wealth.

Key passages

• ““Oh, Mac!” exclaimed Trina, looking up into the dentist’s face, “think of all this money coming to us just at this very moment. Isn’t it wonderful? Don’t it kind of scare you?””

  Trina, amazed, tells McTeague how incredible and frightening it is that the money has arrived so suddenly.

  Trina's mixed awe and anxiety about the lottery windfall.

• ““Ah, the Chinese cigar-makers,” cried Marcus, in a passion, brandishing his fist. “It’s them as is ruining the cause of white labor. They are, they are for a fact . Ah, the rat-eaters! Ah, the white-livered curs!””

  Marcus angrily blames Chinese cigar-makers for undermining white workers' livelihoods, using derogatory language.

  Marcus's racist outburst reflects contemporary labor tensions.

• ““There wa’n’t a piece that was so much as scratched,” Maria was saying. “Every piece was just like a mirror, smooth and bright; oh, bright as a little sun. Such a service as that was⁠—platters and soup tureens and an immense big punchbowl. Five thousand dollars, what does that amount to? Why, that punch-bowl alone was worth a fortune.””

  Maria describes a flawless, dazzling golden table service, claiming the punchbowl alone was worth more than Trina's lottery prize.

  Maria's exaggerated tale of lost wealth contrasts with Trina's modest winnings.

• ““I don’ know what to say⁠—I⁠—I⁠—I ain’t never made a speech before; I⁠—I ain’t never made a speech before. But I’m glad Trina’s won the prize⁠—””

  McTeague stammers that he has no experience with speeches but expresses happiness that Trina won.

  McTeague's awkwardness and simplicity in public speaking.