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"I want four seats for Monday night in the fourth row from the front and on the right-hand side. "Right hand as you face the house or as you face the stage?" Mc Teague was dumbfounded. "I want to be on the right-hand side... in order to be away from the drums. "Well the drums are on the right-hand side of the orchestra as you face the stage... you want to be on the left, then, as you face the house. "I want to be on the right-hand side, " persisted the dentist, (Mc Teague, 74). As Mc Teague carries on further with the ticket man about the tickets, he gets extreme persistent and demanding.
Mc Teague greedy self caused him to not only put on a scene with the ticket man but also show his intense desire of power. Even though he simply wants tickets away from the drums becasue it will bother is head the way he deals with this situation makes him look like a greedy fool. This will be the first of many occasions where we will see this character act out in the nature of greed. Throughout the novel we see many incidence surrounding the aspect of money and gold. Sometimes when people receive a large sum of money they tend to let it all go to their head.
They will spend their money on materialistic accessories. The relationships they had with friends or family can drastic change for the worse. Once greed takes over a person there is no telling what they will do or what obstacles they will knock out of their way. Once Trina won her $ 5, 000 with her winning lottery ticket her whole life changed.
Like anyone that would win money, you would think that great fortune is to come, but what Trina thought was good fortune to come became absolute misfortune. There is an incident in the novel where Trina and Mc Teague were looking to rent a bigger home to live in. Mc Teague took it upon himself to sign the paper work to claim the house theirs. The cost of the house is $ 35. 00 a month. Trina thought this was not a reasonable price, therefore she continued to do her research on the home finding out that the water was in the basement. But this information was unless to her since Mc Teague surprises her with having signed the papers without her knowing.
Her reaction to Mc Teague was not present, she was upset and furious that he would have sign the paper without her consent. She goes on to say that she will not move into that house because of the water was the basement. Mc Teague's reaction to Trina was simply to pay the $ 35. 00 even if they didn't plan on moving in the house. During this time we see both characters showing the nature of greed that takes place throughout this novel.
Trina is showing her greed because the house isn't good enough because the water is in the basement. "I've changed my mind about it, and there's water in the basement besides, " (161). The water in the basement could be a unhealthy situation but Trina's reaction to Mc Teague shows us her selfishness and greed. Mc Teague just trying to be a husband with a surprise for his wife wasn't good enough for her to appreciate. Not only do we see Trina showing her greed at this time, we also see Mc Teague act in the same way. To Mc Teague, it's not a big deal to pay the rent for the month. He says that they can afford to throw away $ 35. 00.
To him this is not a lot of money, he believes we can just pay the month and that's the end of it, in Mc Teague's mind. Trina's reply to his thoughts for paying the $ 35. 00 is, "Thirty-five just thrown out the window... Oh, you are the thick-witted est man that I ever knew. Do you think we are millionaires? Oh, to think of losing thirty-five dollars like that... Well I won't pay a nickel of it, " she exclaimed, (161).
Greed not only effects these character as individuals within themselves but also in their personal relationships with others. For instance, Trina, who is seen in the first half of the book as very loving and caring of her mother. But her greed for money and power turns her into a selfish witch. "Trina put off sending this money for a couple of weeks, and her mother made no mention of it in her next letter... So then she again postponed the sending of it. Day by day she put it off. When her mother asked for it a second time, it seemed harder than ever for Trina to part even half he sum requested, " (197).
As we can see here, Trina is having a hard time with giving her mother some money which is needed in order for her mother to pay for certain expenses. Her mother, the one that brought her into this world and gave Trina a decent life doesn't see this greed that her daughter is facing. It's very disappointing that Trina would put off and continue to put off sending money to her mother to whom raised her and gave her the assets to be a successful woman. Another example of greed influencing others is Mc Teague's change of love for Trina.
At the point in the book when their marriage started to turn rocky we see Mc Teague taking Trina for granted. "He had become used to her by now. She was part of order of the things with which he found himself surrounded. He saw nothing extraordinary about her in his arms; it was no longer a pleasure of him to kiss her and take her in his arms; she was merely his wife. He did not dislike her; he did not love her. She was his wife; that was all, " (224).
This type of greed that has to do with taking advantage of a spouse. Mc Teague no longer wants to show his love and affection towards Trina. He is simply use to her and to him she is just there a figure and holds the title of his wife. We also see this type of greed during another chapter of the book. "You do as I tell you.
Get some steak, or chops or something, " (268). This is Mc Teague ordering Trina to get him the food that he wants. He is demanding her, taking her for granted and ordering her. Mc Teague is showing his huge desire for power. He wants to be in control of Trina. When you receive a large sum of money you tend to want the very best of all things.
Whether that be, the most expensive sports car, the biggest house, the most expensive dress or treating yourself to the finest foods and wine. Objects become very important to you and its hard to settle for nothing but the best. "He had come to be very proud of his silk hat and Prince Albert coat, and liked to wear them on Sundays. Trina had made him sell them both. He preferred Yale mixture in his pipe; Trina had made him come down to Mastiff, a five-cent tobacco with which he was once contented, but now abhorred.
He liked to wear clean cuffs; Trina allowed him fresh pair on Sundays only, " (225). Again, we see Mc Teague's greed, he is use to the finest things offered because he could afford them. But as Trina started to cut down on his expenses, he became angered. It's hard to having enough to get by, then having so much money that you are not sure what to do with, then having to cut down after being use to having the finest of things. In conclusion, the most obvious theme in the novel Mcteague is the nature of greed. The characters have greed when it comes down to money and power.
It is fascinating how a book can show realistically how gaining money or power can change the nicest people into the greatest most selfish people. Like the saying goes, you get an inch, you want to have a mile. Most of the time these people don't see the destruction they have caused until it is to late.
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Research essay sample on Sum Of Money Money And Power
