Examples Of Social Darwinism In Mcteague

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Social Darwinism can be describe as the application of natural laws to the society and culture of human kind. This idea, or ideologies that pertain to it -such as natural selection- relate heavily in many ways to the notion of social climbing, especially in the early iterations of capitalism. This is put into action through the ways in which active decisions interact with the lives and life styles of these individuals. In Frank Noris’ McTeague this ideology is deeply ingrained within the narrative style as well as the eventual fate of the characters as a result of their own interactions with each other. A way in which this is seems to reoccur is through the presence of food within the social settings of the novel, and more specifically with …show more content…
Even more significant in the context of this early capitalist setting is the fact that teeth deteriorate as a direct result of their proximity and flawed care in their relation to the consumption of food and drink. While it cannot be claimed that Mcteague chose dentistry solely for this reason, The narrator states; “just outside his window was his signboard- a modest affair- that read: ‘Doctor McTeague. Dental Parlors. Gas Given’; but that was all. It was his ambition, his dream, to have projecting from that corner window a huge gilded tooth, a molar with enormous prongs, something gorgeous and attractive” (p. 7). It is clear here that McTeague cares greatly about how other’s perceive him, his success and his ability. It can even be argued here that the significance of the molar is important- as one of the teeth that is biologically designed to help you grind and consume nourishment- especially meats. This qualitatively measured purpose of the tooth translates easily to wealth within the animal kingdom, as carnivores are significantly higher on the food chain.The way in which these two symbols of wealth for both the natural and material worlds are synthesized through this ostentatious display of what can be considered necessity in both spheres is undoubtedly