# VI explained — The Rise of Silas Lapham

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

## What happens

Tom Corey visits Silas Lapham at his office and proposes to join the mineral paint business, offering his language skills and knowledge of foreign markets rather than capital. Lapham, initially defensive about the interview with Bartley Hubbard and wary of partners, is taken aback but intrigued. The chapter also includes a flashback to the Laphams' summer at a cottage, where Corey meets Penelope and Irene, and a scene with Mrs. Corey expressing her distaste for the paint business and the Laphams' social standing.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Class and Mobility

The chapter explores the clash between old-money Boston society (the Coreys) and the newly wealthy Laphams, as seen in Mrs. Corey's distaste for the paint business and the Laphams' social standing.

### Morality and Business Ethics

Lapham's wariness of partners and his pride in his circulars reflect his concern for integrity in business, while Corey's proposal to join the firm raises questions about the ethics of mixing capital and labor.

### Appearance vs. Reality

Lapham's mixed feelings about the Hubbard interview and his concern about how others perceive it highlight the gap between public image and private reality.

## Character check-ins

### Silas Lapham

Lapham is in his shirtsleeves at the office, initially defensive about the Hubbard interview and wary of partners, but he listens to Corey's proposal to join the paint business.

### Tom Corey

Corey visits Lapham's office and proposes to join the mineral paint business, offering his language skills and knowledge of foreign markets. He also interacts with the Lapham family at their summer cottage.

### Penelope Lapham

Penelope is at the summer cottage with her family and greets Corey with a drawling 'Oh, how do you do, Mr. Corey?' She engages in light conversation about the beach.

### Mrs. Lapham

Mrs. Lapham is on the veranda of the summer cottage, waiting for her husband and checking her demand for excuses when she sees Corey.

### Mrs. Corey

Mrs. Corey expresses her distaste for the paint business and the Laphams, telling Tom that it is 'very distasteful' and that the kind of people he would be mixed up with is a concern.

### Irene Lapham

Irene is mentioned as having a headache from walking too long on the beach, and Corey politely expresses his sympathy.

## Key lines

> I want you to take me into the mineral paint business.

Corey directly asks Lapham to let him join the paint business.

_This is the pivotal moment where Corey proposes to work with Lapham._

> I could put a little capital into the business, but I didn't imagine you cared for anything of that kind.

Corey offers to invest some money, but quickly realizes Lapham is not interested in a partner.

_Corey tests the waters with an offer of capital, but Lapham rejects the idea of a partnership._

> It's very distasteful to me, Tom. It's not only the kind of business, but the kind of people you would be mixed up with.

Mrs. Corey expresses her strong disapproval of the paint business and the social circle it would bring.

_Mrs. Corey's comment reveals the class prejudices of old Boston society._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/vi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters