Marriage and Domesticity explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Marriage and Domesticity

  The chapter portrays the mundane routines and emotional shifts in McTeague and Trina's marriage, from passion to settled contentment and Trina's growing miserliness.

• Greed and Avarice

  Trina's hoarding instinct intensifies after her lottery win, leading her to resist giving money to her husband despite her love for him.

Characters to notice

• McTeague

  Shows contentment in marriage, relapses to stolidity, and begins to adopt Trina's refinements and ambitions.

• Trina Sieppe

  Becomes increasingly miserly after winning the lottery, struggles with generosity, and reflects on her changed nature.

• Miss Baker

  Mentioned as an acquaintance Trina visits and as someone McTeague learns to tip his hat to.

• Mr. Heise

  Referenced as a neighbor whose wife McTeague greets.

• Maria Macapa

  Seen by Trina as the maid-of-all-work in the flat.

Key passages

• “But that tempest of passion, that overpowering desire that had suddenly taken possession of him that day when he had given her ether, again when he had caught her in his arms in the B Street station, and again and again during the early days of their married life, rarely stirred him now.”

  The intense passion McTeague once felt for Trina has faded, replaced by a calm, unexamined contentment.

  Illustrates the shift from romantic intensity to domestic routine.

• “No, no, no,” she said. “I can’t do it. It may be mean, but I can’t help it. It’s stronger than I.””

  Trina's miserly compulsion overcomes her desire to be generous to her husband.

  Highlights Trina's internal conflict and the theme of greed.