# IX explained — The Rise of Silas Lapham

> Chapter companion for The Rise of Silas Lapham by William Dean Howells.

## What happens

Lapham takes pride in having Bromfield Corey's son, Tom Corey, working for him and boasts about Corey's business acumen, though his wife Persis warns him not to appear as if he is pursuing Corey for Irene. Lapham refrains from inviting Corey to Nantasket but occasionally takes him for drives. During a visit to the new Beacon Street house, Corey meets Irene there and they discuss books, including Middlemarch, and the furnishing of the future library.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Class and Mobility

Lapham's pride in having Bromfield Corey's son as an employee highlights the tension between self-made wealth and inherited social status; Mrs. Lapham's caution against appearing to pursue Corey underscores class anxieties.

### Marriage and Family Dynamics

The Laphams' differing views on how to handle Tom Corey's presence reveal their marital dynamics, with Mrs. Lapham asserting control over social strategy while Lapham chafes at her interference.

### Appearance vs. Reality

Lapham insists he is not 'plotting' to bring Corey and Irene together, yet his actions and boasts suggest otherwise; the conversation about books reveals Irene's superficial knowledge versus Corey's genuine familiarity.

## Character check-ins

### Silas Lapham

Proudly boasts about Tom Corey working for him, but is restrained by his wife from inviting Corey to Nantasket; takes Corey for drives and shows him the new house.

### Mrs. Lapham

Warns Lapham not to appear to be running after Corey; insists on letting things take their natural course regarding Irene and Corey.

### Tom Corey

Works diligently at Lapham's office, handles foreign correspondence, and shows deference to Lapham; meets Irene at the new house and discusses books with her.

### Irene Lapham

Meets Corey at the new Beacon Street house; discusses Middlemarch and plans for the library, asking Corey for book recommendations.

### Penelope Lapham

Mentioned as having finished Middlemarch and being satirical; Irene reports her opinion that she would have been as bad as Rosamond Vincy in the same place.

## Key lines

> Lapham had the pride which comes of self-making, and he would not openly lower his crest to the young fellow he had taken into his business.

Lapham's pride as a self-made man prevented him from showing any deference to Tom Corey, whom he had hired.

_Highlights Lapham's insistence on maintaining authority despite Corey's higher social standing._

> I am not going to have them think we're running after him. If he wants to see Irene, he can find out ways of doing it for himself.

Mrs. Lapham refuses to let Lapham invite Corey to Nantasket, insisting that Corey must make his own effort to see Irene.

_Illustrates Mrs. Lapham's social caution and desire to avoid appearing desperate for a match._

> I don't know how anyone can keep the poets and the historians and novelists separate in their mind.

Irene expresses confusion about distinguishing between different literary genres and authors.

_Reveals Irene's limited literary education and her reliance on Corey for guidance._

## Links

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