# Edward Malia Butler — The Financier character guide > Edward Malia Butler in The Financier by Theodore Dreiser. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Mr. Butler, Butler, Edward Butler, Eddie **First appearance:** 0001-ii ## Snapshot A rough-handed political boss who controls Philadelphia's destiny and adores his daughter Aileen, he must decide what to do when her secret reaches his doorstep. ## Who they are Butler is one of the three men who jointly run the city's politics, a hard, grim, experienced operator whose word shapes who gets elected and who gets franchises. His tenderness for Aileen, his first baby girl, is the one soft place in a life of machine politics, and the discovery of her affair with Cowperwood strikes him as a betrayal he cannot think his way out of. His grief and rage will determine whether Cowperwood's fall is merely financial or total, and his divided loyalty between fatherhood and the political order he upholds drives the novel's middle act. ## In the story ### [The First Great Opportunity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xi) A wealthy contractor who rose from garbage collector; proposes a secret stock-buying scheme to Cowperwood and is impressed by his poise. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xii) Cowperwood turns to Butler for political influence; Butler agrees to help with the bond award. ### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xiii) Mentioned as Aileen's father, a politician whose acquaintances bore Aileen; his social circle does not include the truly elite. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xiv) Butler is one of the Big Three political leaders who control Philadelphia's politics and finances, involved in the scheme to profit from city warrants and loans. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xvi) One of the political bosses interested in street-railways; Cowperwood deals privately for him as an agent, though Butler is not yet aware of all of Cowperwood's plans. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xvii) Stubbornly defends his old house against his daughters' complaints; concerned about Aileen's future and marriage prospects. ### [The Blossoming of Illicit Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xx) Aileen's father, who jovially teases her about finding a suitor, unaware of her relationship with Cowperwood. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xxii) Occasionally carries as high as one hundred thousand dollars in margins with Cowperwood. ### [Chapter XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xxiii) Dines at home when Cowperwood arrives; agrees to help but expresses regret over Cowperwood's dealings with Stener. ### [Chapter XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xxiv) Butler is torn between his liking for Cowperwood and the political and financial risks of supporting him. He considers calling in his $100,000 loan and seeks advice from his son Owen. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xxv) Consults with Mollenhauer and Simpson about Cowperwood's situation; agrees to support the market temporarily but is open to raiding Cowperwood's holdings. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xxvi) Receives an anonymous letter about the affair, confronts Aileen, calls in Cowperwood's loan, and vows revenge. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xxviii) Mentioned by Cowperwood as part of the political trio (with Mollenhauer and Simpson) trying to gain control of the street-railway situation. ### [The Double Blow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xxx) Receives a similar anonymous letter about his daughter's affair with Cowperwood. ### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xxxii) Drives the conference with vengeful intent, revealing Cowperwood's unauthorized loan and pushing for his punishment due to the affair with Aileen. ### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xxxiv) Delighted that Cowperwood is in the toils; he secures the appointment of Dennis Shannon as district attorney. ### [Butler's Investigation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xxxv) Grows restive and puzzled about Aileen's behavior; considers various plans to separate her from Cowperwood; ultimately visits Pinkerton's detective agency in New York to hire an investigator. ### [The Confrontation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xxxvi) Orchestrates a raid to confront Aileen and Cowperwood, driven by shame and a desire to terrify his daughter into reform. ### [Chapter XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xxxvii) Rage and shock at Aileen's defiance; seeks spiritual guidance and resolves to pursue Cowperwood's prosecution. ### [XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xxxviii) Aileen's father, who opposes her relationship with Cowperwood; relieved by Aileen's decision to visit the Steinmetzes. ### [XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xliii) Mentioned indirectly as part of the political forces behind Stener. ### [XLV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xlv) Aileen's father, whose opposition to her relationship with Cowperwood drives her to leave home. ### [Chapter XLVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xlvi) Confronts Cowperwood about Aileen's disappearance, initially hostile but gradually becomes more willing to negotiate. ### [Chapter XLVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/xlvii) His opposition to Cowperwood intensifies due to the affair, and he is seen as a key force behind the financier's legal troubles. ### [LII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/lii) Attends the sentencing, cloaking his motive; leaves satisfied after the sentence. ### [LIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/liv) Holds a grudge against Cowperwood due to the affair with Aileen; influences politicians against him. ### [LVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/chapters/lvii) Dies sitting in his chair; his death removes opposition to Cowperwood's pardon. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/characters/edward_butler - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_financier_se/characters