本研究是對法蘭克•諾瑞斯所著馬蒂克這本小說中，關於其影響主要角色最根本且重要的元素，人性的貪婪、驕傲與暴力，所展開的一項主題研究。在這本小說中，我們看到了、馬蒂克的驕傲與蠻力、崔娜的貪婪與執取，以及馬可斯因妒忌而生的恨意。就技巧而言，諾瑞斯善用並到與平行的論述方法，來鋪陳並比較書中各主要角色的特色特質與相互關係。另一方面，作者亦利用副情節方式，在穿插其書中主要情節之外，另外展開一段關老先生與貝克女士的戀情。藉此，作者似乎暗示：愛或相互的關懷才是人類社會可能的出路，也是人類社會生活所應獨具的核心價值。個人認爲，書中所述人類社會善、惡等種種衝突力量的極大差異，相當程度上，引起了讀者的關注與研究興趣。這本小說透露出作者對糾結人類社會的貪婪與傲慢的憂慮。另一方面，該書也反襯並揭明作者的期望之情：對於一個充滿愛、相互關懷社會的全盼，一個進步、文明，且免於蠻橫與暴力的溫馨社會。

The following reading of Frank Norris' McTeague is thematic with the emphasis on human greed, pride, and violence, because they are the fundamental forces or elements that most concern the characters the novel. In McTeague, we see McTeague's pride and brutal strength, Trina's greed and possessiveness, and the vindictiveness of the jealous Marcus. Technically, Norris makes good use of juxtaposition and parallel portrayals to present the distinctiveness as well as the relatedness of the characters involved. On the other hand, with the Old Grannis-Miss Baker episode, Norris also hints that love or human care for each other is the only possible way out for human beings and the sole core value of life for human society. In my opinion, it is the disparity between the conflicting forces that attracts our attention and interests us much. This novel denotes Norris' worry for a society woven the threads of pride and greed; it designates as well the writer's hope for a society of love, warmth, and mutual help, a society which is advanced, civilized, and free from brutality and violence.