# Bromfield Corey — The Rise of Silas Lapham character guide

> Bromfield Corey in The Rise of Silas Lapham by William Dean Howells.

**Role:** supporting

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

**First appearance:** 0000-i

## Snapshot

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.

## Who they are

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.

## In the story

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/viii)

Receives his wife at breakfast, offers a detached and philosophical view on Tom's involvement with Lapham's paint business.

### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xi)

Questions the Laphams' social fitness; decides to visit Lapham's office with Tom.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xii)

Listens to his wife's report of the visit and offers a dry, skeptical commentary on her interpretation.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xiv)

Hosts the dinner, engages in witty banter about charity and novels.

### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xx)

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

### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xxiv)

Comments wryly that Penelope has 'behaved too well' in the situation, showing his detached, analytical perspective.

### [Chapter XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xxvii)

Visits Penelope after the marriage, finds her humorous and sympathetic, and jokes about the Lapham drawing-room with his wife.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/bromfield_corey
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters