# Trina Sieppe — McTeague character guide > Trina Sieppe in McTeague by Frank Norris. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Trina, Miss Trina, Mrs. McTeague **First appearance:** 0002-i ## Snapshot Marcus's cousin, a trim and pretty young woman from a Swiss family, who marries McTeague and discovers how much she has surrendered. ## Who they are Trina enters the flat as a patient with a broken tooth and becomes the still point around which two friends rearrange their lives. Her early married days swing between revulsion at her husband's coarseness and fierce, clinging affection, and she quietly resolves to lift him to her level rather than sink to his. What she does with the money that comes her way will prove the more dangerous transformation. ## Relationships ### [McTeague](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/characters/mcteague) _romantic_ McTeague marries Trina, but their relationship deteriorates into possessiveness and violence. ### [Marcus Schouler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/characters/marcus_schouler) _romantic_ Marcus is initially Trina's suitor and cousin, but becomes bitterly jealous after she marries McTeague. ### [Maria Macapa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/characters/maria_macapa) _social_ Maria is a gossipy acquaintance and neighbor who interacts frequently with Trina. ### [Old Grannis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/characters/old_grannis) _social_ Old Grannis is a shy, elderly neighbor who shares a quiet, friendly rapport with Trina. ### [Mr. Sieppe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/characters/mr_sieppe) _family_ Mr. Sieppe is Trina's strict and eccentric father, who arranges her marriage to McTeague. ### [Mr. Heise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/characters/mr_heise) _social_ Mr. Heise is a local harness maker and acquaintance of Trina and her family. ### [Zerkow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/characters/zerkow) _social_ Trina is a neighbor and occasional acquaintance of the miserly Zerkow. ### [Owgooste](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/characters/owgooste) _family_ Owgooste is Trina's younger brother, whom she cares for and interacts with frequently. ### [Maria Macapa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/characters/maria_macapa) _social_ Maria is a gossipy acquaintance and neighbor who interacts frequently with Trina. ### [Marcus Schouler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/characters/marcus_schouler) _romantic_ Marcus is initially Trina's suitor and cousin, but becomes bitterly jealous after she marries McTeague. ### [Marcus Schouler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/characters/marcus_schouler) _romantic_ Marcus is initially Trina's suitor and cousin, but becomes bitterly jealous after she marries McTeague. ### [McTeague](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/characters/mcteague) _romantic_ McTeague marries Trina, but their relationship deteriorates into possessiveness and violence. ## In the story ### [McTeague](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/chapters/mcteague) Introduced as a young woman brought to McTeague's office by her cousin Marcus for dental work. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/chapters/i) Marcus's cousin, mentioned as having fallen from a swing at a picnic and knocking out a front tooth. She is expected to visit McTeague for dental treatment. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/chapters/ii) Visits McTeague for dental work after a fall; shows a frank, boyish demeanor; becomes frightened by McTeague's proposal and experiences a fit of vomiting from ether. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/chapters/iv) Referenced as the object of both McTeague's and Marcus's affections; she has finished dental treatment and maintains reserve toward McTeague. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/chapters/v) Conflicted after kissing McTeague, she cries and seeks her mother's counsel, but ultimately accepts him. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/chapters/vi) Tormented by doubts about her love for McTeague, she ultimately surrenders to his physical dominance and declares her love. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/chapters/vii) Wins the lottery and is celebrated; she is joyful and flustered by her sudden fortune. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/chapters/viii) Shows her practical and thrifty nature by insisting on investing her lottery winnings wisely. She also earns money by carving Noah's ark animals and enjoys playful, affectionate interactions with McTeague. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/chapters/ix) Obsessed with protecting her lottery winnings; reluctantly spends two hundred dollars on the household; marries McTeague; feels fear and then submission on their wedding night. ### [Marriage and Domesticity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/chapters/x) Becomes increasingly miserly after winning the lottery, struggles with generosity, and reflects on her changed nature. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/chapters/xi) Manages household finances, organizes the picnic, and desperately tries to stop the fight between her husband and Marcus. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/chapters/xii) Philanders with McTeague, receives Marcus's visit, and becomes increasingly stingy, delaying the money she promised to send her mother. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/chapters/xiii) Panics upon learning McTeague cannot practice; suspects Marcus Schouler is responsible for the notice. ### [Chapter XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/chapters/xiv) Obsessively saves money and is devastated by the sale of her household items, sobbing at the loss of her home and happiness. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/chapters/xv) Becomes increasingly avaricious, hoarding money and food, lying to McTeague about the auction proceeds; works long hours whittling Noah's ark animals; tolerates Maria's visits but refuses to share tea. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/chapters/xvi) Struggles to manage finances after McTeague loses his job; endures physical abuse from her husband; tries to help Old Grannis and Miss Baker; discovers Maria's body. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/chapters/xviii) Suffers from nightmares about Maria's murder, becomes slovenly and coarse, and insists on moving to the house where Maria was killed to save money. ### [Chapter XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/chapters/xix) Trina becomes increasingly obsessed with her lottery winnings, withdrawing all her money from Uncle Oelbermann and hoarding it. She refuses to help McTeague when he returns destitute, and is later murdered by him when he steals the money. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/characters/trina_sieppe - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mcteague_se/characters