McTeague Group

Question:

tanesham
tanesham

Why is Mcteague central to our outstanding of American literary naturalism and/or the representation of city life in the period we are studying?

Compare to another choice of work.

Rate question:

Posted by tanesham on Thursday December 18, 2008 at 3:40 AM and tagged with mcteague, mcteaque.

Answers:

  1. surfpoetess
    surfpoetess Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    You have asked really two different questions. I will address each.

    Understanding American literary naturalism: Naturalistic writers applied the concepts of Darwinism and natural selection to less scientific areas of social status and occupation. Mcteague appears to be a great dentist, but he fails because he does not have the proper education and certification. Had he been of a higher class, he would have understood the importance of these requirements. He is not of a higher class and the system (natural selection) weeds him out.

    City Life - The way that the people mingle on the streets and the park, the theater, McTeague's dentist office, etc. all show the interactions of the city. You should see the stratification of the society.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/mcteague-salem

    Rate answer:

    Posted by surfpoetess on Thursday December 18, 2008 at 9:23 AM

  2. tanesham
    tanesham

    thank you

    Rate answer:

    Posted by tanesham on Friday December 19, 2008 at 5:22 AM