# The Plan and the New Houses explained — The Financier

> Chapter companion for The Financier by Theodore Dreiser.

## What happens

Cowperwood devises a manipulative financial scheme with City Treasurer Stener to control the sale of city loan certificates, using wash sales and market manipulation to profit while ensuring the city eventually gets par value. Meanwhile, his new bank and houses, designed by Ellsworth, are completed, reflecting his growing wealth and artistic taste. He plans to use the homes for social entertaining to advance his connections.

## Themes in this chapter

### Ambition and Success

Cowperwood's ambitious financial scheme and his investment in luxurious homes and social climbing illustrate his relentless drive for success.

### Deception and Self-Justification

The manipulative plan to use city funds and wash sales is presented as a clever, acceptable business practice, highlighting the theme of moral self-justification.

### Class and Social Mobility

Cowperwood's new houses and plans for entertaining are aimed at elevating his social standing and securing advantageous marriages for his siblings.

## Character check-ins

### Frank Algernon Cowperwood

Devises a manipulative financial plan with Stener; oversees completion of his new bank and houses; plans social entertaining to advance his position.

### George W. Stener

City treasurer who agrees to Cowperwood's scheme to use city loan certificates for market manipulation and speculation.

### Henry Worthington Cowperwood

Father of Frank; his house is also being built adjacent to Frank's, with shared features.

### Anna Adelaide Cowperwood

Frank's sister; mentioned as part of plans for joint use of the houses and potential social advancement.

### Lillian Cowperwood

Frank's wife; reacts wanly to his plans for entertaining in the new home.

### Wilton Ellsworth

Architect and decorator who designs the Cowperwood bank and houses, explaining artistic styles to Frank.

## Key lines

> The plan Cowperwood developed after a few days’ meditation will be plain enough to anyone who knows anything of commercial and financial manipulation, but a dark secret to those who do not.

Cowperwood's scheme is transparent to financial insiders but obscure to the general public.

_Sets up the chapter's focus on financial manipulation._

> Manipulative tricks have always been worked in connection with stocks of which one man or one set of men has had complete control. It was no different from what subsequently was done with Erie, Standard Oil, Copper, Sugar, Wheat, and whatnot.

Such market manipulation is a common practice when a single group controls a stock, similar to later cases with major commodities.

_Contextualizes Cowperwood's actions within broader financial history._

> The interior was finished in highly-polished hardwood, stained in imitation of the gray lichens which infest trees.

The woodwork was polished to resemble the gray lichen found on trees.

_Describes the distinctive aesthetic of Cowperwood's new bank._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_financier_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_financier_se/chapters