The physical appearance compared to the actual ability one has, sometimes contradicts. Similarly, what is seen on the outside does not always account for the person’s capability. In the passage, the narrator focuses on the character of McTeague. McTeauge is characterized as stupid; yet irony sets when the narrator explains McTeague’s profession. Though the narrator never fully addresses his opinions on McTeague, through the use of detail, diction, and syntax, the narrator creates a certain tone that reveals his attitude towards McTeague, while describing an underlining irony. Throughout the passage, the tone of the narrator is mainly one of pity. The narrator’s initial description of how McTeague acquires money to open a business involves…show more content… While the description progresses, a comparison is made between McTeague’s physical features and his intellect. Diction such as “his immense limbs, heavy with ropes of muscle, slowly, ponderously” (13-14) suggests that McTeague’s body is built similar to stereotypical lumberjack. His body initially seems to be an advantage as a dentist; however, the narrator proceeds to use diction such as “heavy, slow to act, sluggish” (22-23) to describe his intellect. By comparing his body and mind, the narrator is attempting to express his pity for McTeague indirectly. Within the first few paragraphs of the passage, McTeauge is described as a rather large yet intellectually slow man who has a makeshift dentistry because of his mother’s death. The particular diction used to portray McTeague is the component that causes the overall tone of pity. McTeague “felt that his life was a success and that he could hope for nothing better” (26-28) once he opened his dentistry; yet, the narrator explains how his only customers were those of the lower class rather than professionals. The simplicity of Mcteague’s mind shown through his content with his business explains to readers that majority of his
