The Rise of Silas Lapham · Character

Bromfield Corey

Tom's father: an urbane Boston aristocrat of inherited means and idle wit, who watches the Laphams' ascent with amusement, curiosity, and a flicker of conscience.

supporting

Also known as Phillips Corey, old Phillips Corey, the elder Corey

First appearance: i

As a supporting figure in The Rise of Silas Lapham, Bromfield Corey is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Engages in a philosophical conversation with his son about social class, money, and Bostonian standards.

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Bromfield Corey lives on family money and cultivated leisure, a man whose chief occupation is observing the social comedy in which he no longer bothers to perform. He calls on Lapham out of courtesy and finds himself genuinely pleased by the Colonel's praise of Tom, even as he notes the typewriter girl and the raw earnestness of the place. His easy charm and unearned ease stand as the novel's measure of what Lapham can never buy—and what Tom has quietly chosen to leave behind.

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See Bromfield Corey in i

Character Web

4 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Extended social circle
Protagonist
Love triangle participants

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

In this scene, the narrative reaches its emotional and psychological peak when Penelope, after learning that C…

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In the story

Bromfield Corey appears across 10 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

V
Engages in a philosophical conversation with his son about social class, money, and Bostonian standards. He is skeptical of the nouveau riche but shows a tolerant curiosity.
Chapter VIII
Receives his wife at breakfast, offers a detached and philosophical view on Tom's involvement with Lapham's paint business.
Chapter XI
Questions the Laphams' social fitness; decides to visit Lapham's office with Tom.
XII
Listens to his wife's report of the visit and offers a dry, skeptical commentary on her interpretation.
XIV
Hosts the dinner, engages in witty banter about charity and novels.
XV
Mentioned as having spoken to Tom about the incident, noting that Lapham's behavior was an accident and that the guests understood it as such.
Chapter XX
Reacts with ironic humor to the love triangle, comparing it to a romance or second marriage.
XXIV
Comments wryly that Penelope has 'behaved too well' in the situation, showing his detached, analytical perspective.
Chapter XXVI
Mentioned in a brief passage about his acceptance of Tom's marriage to Penelope, expressing hope for the best and planning to call on Miss Lapham.
Chapter XXVII
Visits Penelope after the marriage, finds her humorous and sympathetic, and jokes about the Lapham drawing-room with his wife.

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