McTeague: Chapter 16 Summary & Analysis

Over the course of the following month, Trina becomes increasingly anxious as McTeague remains unemployed and unable to find work. She convinces him to move to cheaper quarters, although it results in another big fight. McTeague, after failing to secure a position in the shipping department of a toy store due to the job’s requirements, becomes listless and loses ambition. He spends his days idly drinking whiskey at a local saloon, which makes him mean and abusive when he gets home to Trina.

On Thanksgiving Day, McTeague drinks heavily and returns home to demand money from Trina, pinching and hurting her until she complies. Although McTeague rarely drinks to excess, the alcohol exacerbates his viciousness. His dislike for Trina continues to grow as they are forced to live in direr circumstances. McTeague is only violent with Trina when he’s drunk, though their relationship is also terrible when he is sober. They often argue over Trina’s savings, but the result is always the same. Although Trina would never admit it to McTeague, she takes a perverse pleasure in his abuses and in fondling the coins she has saved when he is not around.

During this time, Trina forms a close friendship with Maria, as they bond over their husbands’ abuses. They compare bruises and discuss the best ways to handle their husbands’ aggression. Maria is convinced that Zerkow will never actually kill her because he wants to know where the gold plates are. Maria’s confidence surprises Trina.

One November morning, after Trina finishes a large Christmas order of Noah’s Ark carvings, she decides to pay Miss Baker a visit. However, she finds Miss Baker is not home. Instead, she talks briefly with Mr. Grannis, encouraging him to propose to Miss Baker since he’s come into money from selling a bookbinding patent. Next, Trina visits Maria, hoping they can get lunch together. However, instead, she finds Maria lying dead with a gash in her throat.

Trina, horrified, is unable to speak. Eventually, she manages to flag down a local to help her contact the authorities. As Trina struggles to come to terms with what has happened, a crowd gathers, and eventually two policemen arrive to investigate. It seems like everyone on Polk Street has come to see what is going on. Immediately, someone suggests that Zerkow must have killed Maria. Indeed, later the same day, the police find Zerkow’s body in in the bay. He died clutching a sack of old tin dishes. It makes Trina sad to think that both Maria and Zerkow are dead because of a set of golden plates that never existed.