The Rise of Silas Lapham · Character

Irene Lapham

The beautiful younger Lapham daughter, certain of Tom Corey's love until she isn't, whose stony composure hides a grief she refuses to let anyone carry.

major

Also known as Miss Irene Lapham, Miss Lapham, Miss Irene, Irene Lapham

First appearance: i

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

Accompanies her mother in Canada and is the object of Tom Corey's attention; her mother notes his behavior toward her.

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Irene is the family's acknowledged beauty, the one the new house on the water was half-built for, and she loves with the wholehearted confidence of someone who has never been denied. When that certainty collapses, she does not weep or rage—she goes rigid, asks her father for something to make her sleep, and insists on carrying her sister's breakfast upstairs the next morning. Her disciplined silence becomes one of the novel's most affecting forces, a grief that will not perform itself for anyone.

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See Irene Lapham in i

Character Web

18 connections

A slice of how Irene Lapham sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Family
Romantic
Other

Character groups

Love triangle participants
Extended social circle
Protagonist

+13 more in the full Character Web

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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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Relationships

Silas Lapham
family · positive
Irene is Silas's younger daughter, whom he dotes on and hopes to see marry well. How this plays out →
Penelope Lapham
family · ambivalent
Tom Corey
romantic · negative
Silas Lapham
family · positive
Irene is Silas's younger daughter, whom he dotes on and hopes to see marry well. How this plays out →
Penelope Lapham
family · ambivalent
Penelope Lapham
family · ambivalent
Tom Corey
romantic · negative
Tom Corey
romantic · negative
Silas Lapham
family · positive
Irene is Silas's younger daughter, whom he dotes on and hopes to see marry well. How this plays out →

Silas Lapham
Irene is Silas's younger daughter, whom he dotes on and hopes to see marry well.
Penelope Lapham
Sisters who are close but experience tension when Tom Corey's affections shift from Irene to Penelope.
Tom Corey
Irene is initially infatuated with Tom, believing he is courting her, but he ultimately prefers Penelope.
Silas Lapham
Irene is Silas's younger daughter, whom he dotes on and hopes to see marry well.
Penelope Lapham
Sisters who are close but experience tension when Tom Corey's affections shift from Irene to Penelope.
Penelope Lapham
Sisters who are close but experience tension when Tom Corey's affections shift from Irene to Penelope.
Tom Corey
Irene is initially infatuated with Tom, believing he is courting her, but he ultimately prefers Penelope.
Tom Corey
Irene is initially infatuated with Tom, believing he is courting her, but he ultimately prefers Penelope.
Silas Lapham
Irene is Silas's younger daughter, whom he dotes on and hopes to see marry well.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Irene Lapham in i

In the story

Irene Lapham appears across 18 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

II
Accompanies her mother in Canada and is the object of Tom Corey's attention; her mother notes his behavior toward her.
III
Receives the Texas newspaper and secretly treasures it, cutting out the article and placing it in her mirror.
IV
Visits the new house, blushes and greets Tom Corey when he appears, and later anxiously discusses with Penelope the impression her father made on him.
V
Mentioned as the pretty sister, though not directly involved in the conversation.
VI
Irene is mentioned as having a headache from walking too long on the beach, and Corey politely expresses his sympathy.
VII
Feigns a headache to avoid meeting Corey, is anxious and flustered upon learning he is present, and ultimately decides to stay in her room.
Chapter VIII
Mentioned as the pretty sister with a wonderful complexion, though Tom's response is evasive.
IX
Meets Corey at the new Beacon Street house; discusses Middlemarch and plans for the library, asking Corey for book recommendations.
Chapter X
Sits quietly, looking pretty, and listens to Penelope's drolling; defers to her sister in conversation.
XII
Returns home after the call ends; is confused by Penelope's reaction and questions her mother about the visit.
XIII
Eagerly defends Mrs. Corey's intentions and encourages her mother to accept the invitation.
XIV
Present at the dinner, looking beautiful but not talking much.
XVI
Mentioned as being out with her mother at the Spanish Students' concert.
XVII
Unaware of the truth, she continues to talk excitedly about the Corey dinner and her hopes regarding Tom.
XVIII
The sister who initially believed Tom Corey was courting her; her heartbreak is a key concern for the family.
XIX
Receives the news of Tom's love for Penelope with stoic composure, returns his tokens to Penelope, and insists on walking with her father to calm herself.
XXII
Sends a letter from Dubuque with no reference to her own feelings; decides to spend the winter with her uncle's family.
Chapter XXVII
Returns from her visit hardened and toughened, showing businesslike acumen and ignoring the past with her sister and Corey.

Chapter companion notes

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