# Chapter XX explained — The Rise of Silas Lapham

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

## What happens

Tom Corey reveals to his mother that he loves Penelope Lapham, not Irene, causing distress in the Corey household. Bromfield Corey reacts with ironic humor, while Mrs. Corey struggles with her dislike of the Laphams. Meanwhile, Silas Lapham discusses his troubled business dealings with Milton Rogers, and Mrs. Lapham questions Lapham's responsibility for Rogers' misfortunes.

## Themes in this chapter

### Marriage and Family Dynamics

The Corey family grapples with Tom's choice of Penelope, revealing tensions between parental expectations and filial love.

### Social Class and Mobility

Bromfield Corey's distaste for the Laphams highlights class prejudice and the discomfort of social mixing.

### Honesty and Deception

The love triangle involves emotional deception, while Lapham's business dealings raise questions of honesty and responsibility.

## Character check-ins

### Tom Corey

Confesses his love for Penelope Lapham to his mother, showing anxiety and relief.

### Mrs. Corey

Struggles with her dislike of Penelope and the Laphams, but supports her son's choice.

### Bromfield Corey

Reacts with ironic humor to the love triangle, comparing it to a romance or second marriage.

### Silas Lapham

Discusses his business troubles with Milton Rogers, defending his past actions.

### Mrs. Lapham

Questions Lapham's responsibility for Rogers' decline, showing moral concern.

### Milton K. Rogers

Mentioned in Lapham's discussion about a failed business deal involving the G.L. & P. mills.

## Key lines

> all will go merry as a marriage bell—a second marriage bell. Why, it’s quite like a romance!

Everything will turn out happily, like a second marriage; it's just like a romantic story.

_Bromfield Corey's ironic prediction about the resolution of the love triangle._

> The whole Lapham tribe is distasteful to me.

I find the entire Lapham family unpleasant.

_Bromfield Corey expresses his class-based aversion to the Laphams._

> I want you should ask yourself whether Rogers would ever have gone wrong, or got into these ways of his, if it hadn’t been for your forcing him out of the business when you did.

I want you to consider if Rogers would have become dishonest if you hadn't pushed him out of the company.

_Mrs. Lapham questions her husband's moral responsibility for Rogers' decline._

## Links

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