Mcteague -

descends into pathological greed, hoarding her gold coins while her husband starves.

The characters are products of their environment. The suffocating atmosphere of Polk Street and the desolate void of Death Valley mirror the characters' internal decay. McTeague

The story follows McTeague, a slow-witted, towering man who practices dentistry without a license. His life is stable, if dull, until he falls for Trina Sieppe, the cousin of his best friend, Marcus Schouler. descends into pathological greed, hoarding her gold coins

The turning point occurs when Trina wins $5,000 in a lottery. This sudden wealth acts as a catalyst for destruction: descends into pathological greed