McTeague · Chapter
Chapter XVI explained
A month passes after McTeague loses his job, and the couple's financial situation worsens.
What happens
A month passes after McTeague loses his job, and the couple's financial situation worsens. Trina forces them to move to cheaper quarters and tries to find work for McTeague, but he becomes increasingly idle and listless, spending his days watching construction or drinking at Joe Frenna's saloon. Alcohol makes him vicious, and he begins to abuse Trina physically. Meanwhile, Maria Macapa confides in Trina about Zerkow's obsessive search for the gold plate and his violent behavior. Trina later visits Old Grannis and urges him to confess his love to Miss Baker. When Trina goes to see Maria, she discovers Maria's murdered body with a gash in her throat.
Themes in this chapter
Greed and Avarice
Zerkow's obsessive search for the gold plate drives him to madness and violence, culminating in Maria's murder.
Violence and Brutality
McTeague's physical abuse of Trina escalates, and Zerkow's violent treatment of Maria leads to her death.
Isolation and Loneliness
Old Grannis and Miss Baker's long-standing unspoken love highlights the loneliness of the flat's inhabitants.
Characters to notice
- Trina Sieppe
Struggles to manage finances after McTeague loses his job; endures physical abuse from her husband; tries to help Old Grannis and Miss Baker; discovers Maria's body.
- McTeague
Becomes idle and listless after losing his job; turns to drinking, which makes him vicious; begins pinching and abusing Trina.
- Maria Macapa
Confides in Trina about Zerkow's obsessive search for gold and his violent behavior; later found murdered with a gash in her throat.
- Zerkow
Becomes increasingly obsessed with finding the gold plate; digs holes in walls and yard; beats Maria and has fits of rage.
- Old Grannis
Sells the patent for his bookbinding device for a sum of money; Trina urges him to propose to Miss Baker.
- Miss Baker
Mentioned as the object of Old Grannis's affection; Trina tries to arrange a match between them.
Key passages
“A week passed, then a fortnight, then a month. It was a month of the greatest anxiety and unquietude for Trina.”
Time passed slowly, and Trina grew increasingly anxious and unsettled.
Highlights Trina's growing distress as McTeague remains unemployed.
“It did not make him drunk, it made him vicious.”
Alcohol didn't intoxicate McTeague; it brought out his cruelty.
Describes the transformative effect of alcohol on McTeague's behavior.
“She was dead. And as Trina touched her shoulder, her head rolled sideways and showed a fearful gash in her throat under her ear.”
Trina found Maria dead, with a deep cut on her neck.
The discovery of Maria's murder marks a turning point in the chapter.