Social Darwinism In Mcteague

Words: 506
Pages: 3
Open Document
Social Darwinism is a social concept based on Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection. This idea suggested that human organization was based on survival of the fittest and that certain classes and races dominated because they were superior. Frank Norris’s book, McTeague, is often associated with Social Darwinism due to the failures and successes of the characters. Frank Norris portrays Social Darwinism in his novel, McTeague, through the animal instincts and race domination of two characters McTeague and Zerkow; McTeague’s impulsive sense of smell reveals Norris’s animalistic characterization of him, and Zerkow’s lust for the gold dishes results from the lowliness of his Jewish background. Frank Norris’s portrayal of his main character, McTeague, in his novel McTeague, goes to show how the foolish character embodies his defective Irish background. The odor of her hair, a charming feminine perfume, sweet, heavy, enervating, came to his nostrils, so penetrating, so delicious, that his flesh pricked and tingled with it; a veritable sensation of faintness passed over this huge, callous fellow, with his enormous bones and corded muscles” (Norris 20)
By giving McTeague animal instincts, Frank Norris shows how Social Darwinism worked. Due to the animalistic features that McTeague …show more content…
While reading the book, one could see from Norris’s examples which characters were a success or failure. Frank Norris captured the idea of Social Darwinism through his characters McTeague and Zirkow. In summary, the book McTeague represents Social Darwinism in action as McTeague and Zirkow’s ethnicity caused them to be in a lower
Show More

Related Documents: Social Darwinism In Mcteague

Examples Of Social Darwinism In Mcteague

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…

Words 745 - Pages 3

Essay Comparing Mcteague And Trina

of Social Darwinism is defined as the theory that persons, groups, and races are subject to the same laws of natural selection. This was mainly popular within the late 19th and early 20th century where in most cases the weak were destroyed and it was “Survival of the fittest”. Human beings were not only judged based on race and religion, but also their economic wealth and living status. McTeague by Frank Norris creates satirical writings through the characters, Maria and Zerkow and McTeague and…

Words 474 - Pages 2