The turning point occurs when Trina wins $5,000 in a lottery. This sudden wealth acts as a catalyst for destruction:
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. McTeague
The novel concludes with a harrowing sequence in Death Valley. McTeague, having murdered Trina for her gold, is hunted down by Marcus. In their final struggle, McTeague kills Marcus, only to realize his victim has handcuffed them together. The book ends with McTeague stranded in the salt flats—rich with gold, but doomed to die of thirst next to a corpse. Key Themes The turning point occurs when Trina wins $5,000 in a lottery