Analysis Tom Corey’s visit to the house brings him into the picture. He has returned from Texas, as Silas did, and eventually he will be part of the paint business. Silas’ comment on the need for Tom to find something to do is a prediction of the position he will […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter IVSummary and Analysis Chapter III
Lapham begins to build his house. His plan is the epitome of ugliness, and his architect is able to persuade him to make changes. When Silas visits the site with his wife, his old partner, Rogers, pays an unexpected call. Lapham will not speak to him and leaves the conversation […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter IIISummary and Analysis Chapter II
Not only do the Laphams live in a socially unacceptable neighborhood, but also they have not educated their daughters to perform well in social functions; afraid of being snubbed by the other girls, the Lapham sisters dropped out of finishing school after attending part of a year. When Mrs. Corey’s […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter IISummary and Analysis Chapter I
“Take ’em both,” Bartley suggests. Born on a northern Vermont farm near the Canadian border in 1820, Lapham was the son of poor and unpretentious, religious parents possessing sterling morality. Lapham, however, admired his mother more when she knelt before him at night washing his feet than when she knelt […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter ICharacter List
Persis Silas’ wife, and a schoolteacher. Penelope The older daughter of Silas and Persis. Irene The younger daughter of the Laphams. The Coreys Bromfield Silas Lapham finds Bromfield Corey to be offensively aristocratic. Bromfield is the spokesman for the intelligent, aristocratic class, although he says that to his relief he […]
Read more Character ListAbout The Rise of Silas Lapham
Silas’ rise to fortune and the contrived love affair of Irene are romantic aspects of the novel which are only temporary and end tragically. Silas loses his business because he loans too much money to a former partner to redeem his soul from the sin of greed; he had used […]
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