Character Relationship Map: Greed

Characters

• John McTeague (played by Gibson Gowland) — protagonist

  A dentist who marries Trina after winning her over. Driven by greed, he ruins his practice, commits domestic violence, and murders his wife to steal her lottery winnings. He eventually flees to Death...

• Trina (played by Zasu Pitts) — protagonist

  A frugal woman who wins a $5,000 lottery prize. She marries McTeague but refuses to spend the money. After her fingers are bitten and amputated, she works as a janitor to protect her savings, ultimate...

• Marcus (played by Jean Hersholt) — supporting

  Trina's cousin and former suitor who facilitates her relationship with McTeague. Consumed by bitterness over the lottery money, he secretly ruins McTeague's practice and later pursues him into Death V...

• Maria (played by Dale Fuller) — supporting

  A young Mexican junk collector who sells Trina the winning lottery ticket. In a cut subplot, she lies about possessing a solid gold dining set, which drives her husband Zerkow to murder her before he...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Maria → Trina (Professional Lottery Seller) — Maria's transaction with Trina initiates the fortune that drives the main tragedy.

  The subplot states that Maria sells Trina the lottery ticket that later wins $5,000.

• Marcus → Trina (Family Cousin) — Their family connection gives Marcus access to Trina and places him close to the central relationship.

  Marcus is explicitly described as Trina's cousin.

• John McTeague → Trina (Family Spouse) — Their marriage becomes the central domestic relationship of the story.

  The plot states that Trina eventually agrees to marry McTeague, and they continue living together in a small apartment.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• John McTeague → Marcus (Social Friend) — Their friendship collapses after the lottery win and Marcus's resentment.

  The plot explicitly states that Schouler and McTeague are friends, and Marcus initially facilitates McTeague's courtship of Trina.

Story Analysis

A marriage is destroyed as possessiveness, resentment, and hunger for money overwhelm human attachment.

Plot Progression

1. From Mine To Marriage — McTeague leaves mining behind and becomes a dentist in San Francisco. His meeting with Trina develops into courtship and marriage, while the lottery ticket introduces a dangerous fortune.
2. The Fortune Divides Them — Trina wins $5,000 but refuses to spend it. Marcus grows bitter, leaves San Francisco, and secretly reports McTeague's unlicensed practice.
3. Poverty And Possession — The dental practice closes and the couple's possessions are sold. McTeague's rage injures Trina, while her savings become the object of increasingly destructive control.
4. Murder And Pursuit — McTeague kills Trina and takes the lottery money. He flees toward Death Valley as Marcus pursues him for a final confrontation.
5. The Desert's Judgment — Marcus destroys McTeague's horse and water supply before their last fight. McTeague survives the struggle but is left handcuffed to Marcus's corpse in the desert.