# XXXIV explained — The Financier

> Chapter companion for The Financier by Theodore Dreiser.

## What happens

Cowperwood's father resigns from the bank under the weight of his son's disgrace. Frank Cowperwood remains calm and collected, viewing life in terms of strength and weakness rather than morality. He refuses to turn state's evidence. Political maneuvering intensifies as Butler, Mollenhauer, and Simpson secure a victory for their party, with Shannon set to become district attorney. Cowperwood is formally charged, appears before the mayor, and is indicted for embezzlement, with his trial scheduled for December 5th. Aileen Butler follows the case closely, finding comfort in a reform association report that suggests Cowperwood is more sinned against than sinning.

## Themes in this chapter

### Survival and Resilience

Cowperwood remains calm and collected amid disaster, believing in his own strength and a guiding star, refusing to be broken by public disgrace.

### Deception and Self-Justification

Cowperwood rationalizes his actions by dismissing morality and sin, viewing life solely through strength and weakness, and refusing to turn state's evidence.

### Corruption and Power

Political leaders manipulate the legal system and elections to protect their interests, while Cowperwood and Stener are scapegoats for a system that long tolerated such practices.

## Character check-ins

### Henry Worthington Cowperwood

Aged and broken by his son's disgrace, he resigns from the bank after thirty-five years of service.

### Frank Algernon Cowperwood

Remains calm and collected, refusing to turn state's evidence; he is formally charged and indicted for embezzlement.

### George W. Stener

Depicted with a grayish-white face and blue lips; his guilt is considered undeniable.

### Edward Malia Butler

Delighted that Cowperwood is in the toils; he secures the appointment of Dennis Shannon as district attorney.

### Aileen Butler

Follows Cowperwood's vicissitudes with bias and enthusiasm; she cuts out a reform association report that comforts her.

### Harper Steger

Cowperwood's lawyer; arranges for his client to appear before a warrant can be served and secures bail.

## Key lines

> That thing conscience, which obsesses and rides some people to destruction, did not trouble him at all. He had no consciousness of what is currently known as sin.

Cowperwood was untroubled by guilt or the concept of sin; he viewed life solely through the lens of strength versus weakness.

_Highlights Cowperwood's amoral worldview and his psychological resilience._

> Strength would win—weakness lose. He must rely on swiftness of thought, accuracy, his judgment, and on nothing else.

Cowperwood believed that only strength, quick thinking, and accurate judgment mattered for survival and success.

_Captures Cowperwood's core philosophy of life as a contest of power._

> This is a great dumb show, Mr. Mayor, [...] a form of procedure which was absolutely unavoidable at this time.

Cowperwood dismissed the legal proceedings as a meaningless performance that was politically necessary.

_Illustrates Cowperwood's cynical view of the judicial process as a political tool._

## Links

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