McTeague · Character

Zerkow

A ragman and junk dealer whose avarice fixes on Maria Macapa's story of a golden service and will not let go.

supporting

Also known as the ragman Zerkow, old Zerkow

First appearance: ii

As a supporting figure in McTeague, Zerkow is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Introduced as a ragman who is obsessed with Maria's story of the gold dishes.

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Zerkow trades in other people's discards, hoarding and scheming in a shop thick with refuse, and he listens to Maria's tale of the gold service with a greed that borders on worship. He wants the story to be true and…

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The fuller portrait of Zerkow sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Zerkow in ii

Character Web

12 connections

A slice of how Zerkow sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Psychological
Social
Other

Character groups

Polk Street community
Peripheral or historical figures
Protagonist

+7 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This chapter marks the dramatic climax because it represents the emotional and psychological peak of Trina’s a…

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Relationships

Maria Macapa
psychological · negative
Zerkow obsessively manipulates Maria to extract her stories about a mythical gold… How this plays out →
Trina Sieppe
social · ambivalent
Marcus Schouler
social · negative
Maria Macapa
psychological · negative
Zerkow obsessively manipulates Maria to extract her stories about a mythical gold… How this plays out →
Maria Macapa
psychological · negative
Zerkow obsessively manipulates Maria to extract her stories about a mythical gold… How this plays out →
Trina Sieppe
social · ambivalent
Marcus Schouler
social · negative
Marcus Schouler
social · negative

Maria Macapa
Zerkow obsessively manipulates Maria to extract her stories about a mythical gold service, driven by greed.
Trina Sieppe
Trina is a neighbor and occasional acquaintance of the miserly Zerkow.
Marcus Schouler
Marcus and Zerkow are acquaintances in the boarding house, with Marcus often disdainful of Zerkow's miserliness.
Maria Macapa
Zerkow obsessively manipulates Maria to extract her stories about a mythical gold service, driven by greed.
Maria Macapa
Zerkow obsessively manipulates Maria to extract her stories about a mythical gold service, driven by greed.
Trina Sieppe
Trina is a neighbor and occasional acquaintance of the miserly Zerkow.
Marcus Schouler
Marcus and Zerkow are acquaintances in the boarding house, with Marcus often disdainful of Zerkow's miserliness.
Marcus Schouler
Marcus and Zerkow are acquaintances in the boarding house, with Marcus often disdainful of Zerkow's miserliness.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Zerkow in ii

In the story

Zerkow appears across 8 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

McTeague
Introduced as a ragman who is obsessed with Maria's story of the gold dishes.
Chapter III
Buys junk from Maria; becomes obsessed with her tale of a golden service; suffers from greed and anguish.
Chapter XI
Mentioned as the ragman who has proposed to Maria Macapa.
XII
Married to Maria, obsessed with the gold plate story, and becomes frustrated when Maria refuses to recount it after their child's death.
Chapter XIV
Attends the sale and buys some of McTeague's dental instruments and gold tape.
XV
Becomes more obsessive and paranoid, spying on Maria and tearing down part of the wall; threatens to kill her if she doesn't reveal the location of the gold dishes.
Chapter XVI
Becomes increasingly obsessed with finding the gold plate; digs holes in walls and yard; beats Maria and has fits of rage.
XVIII
The house where he killed Maria becomes the McTeagues' new home.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Zerkow unlock in the free preview.

See Zerkow in ii

See Zerkow in McTeague