# Enter Hosmer Hand explained — The Titan

> Chapter companion for The Titan by Theodore Dreiser.

## What happens

Hosmer Hand, enraged by Cowperwood's affair with his wife, allies with Norman Schryhart and Timothy Arneel to financially and politically destroy Cowperwood. They pressure Addison Cowperwood to sever ties with the Lake City Bank, forcing his resignation. Hand recruits Patrick Gilgan, a powerful Republican politician, to lead a campaign to defeat the McKenty-Cowperwood Democratic machine in the upcoming city election.

## Themes in this chapter

### Corruption and Morality

Hand's moral outrage over Cowperwood's affair with his wife is used as a pretext for financial and political retaliation, revealing the hypocrisy and instrumental use of morality in business and society.

### Politics and Public Opinion

The chapter details how Hand and his allies manipulate political machinery and public sentiment through alliances with politicians like Gilgan and control of newspapers to defeat their enemies.

### Wealth and Its Illusions

Cowperwood's apparent financial stability is shown to be fragile, dependent on personal relationships and reputations that can be destroyed by scandal and rumor.

## Character check-ins

### Hosmer Hand

A wealthy financier and director, deeply angered by Cowperwood's affair with his wife, he seeks revenge by uniting financial and political forces against Cowperwood.

### Frank A. Cowperwood

The target of Hand's wrath; his credit and political alliances come under attack as Hand mobilizes opposition.

### Norman Schryhart

A long-time rival of Cowperwood, now allied with Hand, spreading damaging rumors and seeking to undermine Cowperwood's standing.

### Addison Cowperwood

President of the Lake City Bank, forced to resign after Hand and Arneel demand an end to loans to Cowperwood; later becomes president of the Chicago Trust Company.

### Patrick Gilgan

A powerful South Side politician and state senator, recruited by Hand to lead a Republican campaign to defeat the McKenty-Cowperwood Democratic machine.

### Timothy Arneel

A sober financier and Hand's ally, who joins the effort to cut off Cowperwood's bank credit and support the political opposition.

## Key lines

> Those who know anything concerning the financial world and its great adventures know how precious is that reputation for probity, solidarity, and conservatism on which so many of the successful enterprises of the world are based.

In high finance, a reputation for honesty and reliability is essential for success, and any scandal can undermine an entire business empire.

_Highlights the importance of reputation in Cowperwood's world and the threat Hand's campaign poses._

> It is very plain to me now that the man is thoroughly bad—from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet. It’s a pity the city has to endure him.

Hand declares Cowperwood completely corrupt and a blight on Chicago, justifying his campaign to destroy him.

_Shows Hand's personal vendetta and his framing of it as a public duty._

> I want to fix things so that the McKenty-Cowperwood crowd couldn’t get an alderman or a city official to sell out, once they are elected.

Hand aims to ensure that after the election, no city official would be willing to be bribed by Cowperwood's faction.

_Reveals Hand's political strategy to break Cowperwood's influence through a complete electoral defeat._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xxxiv-enter-hosmer-hand
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_titan_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_titan_se/chapters