# Irene Lapham — The Rise of Silas Lapham character guide > Irene Lapham in The Rise of Silas Lapham by William Dean Howells. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss Irene Lapham, Miss Lapham, Miss Irene, Irene Lapham **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Snapshot 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. ## Who they are 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. ## Relationships ### [Silas Lapham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/silas_lapham) _family_ Irene is Silas's younger daughter, whom he dotes on and hopes to see marry well. ### [Penelope Lapham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/penelope_lapham) _family_ Sisters who are close but experience tension when Tom Corey's affections shift from Irene to Penelope. ### [Tom Corey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/tom_corey) _romantic_ Irene is initially infatuated with Tom, believing he is courting her, but he ultimately prefers Penelope. ### [Silas Lapham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/silas_lapham) _family_ Irene is Silas's younger daughter, whom he dotes on and hopes to see marry well. ### [Penelope Lapham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/penelope_lapham) _family_ Sisters who are close but experience tension when Tom Corey's affections shift from Irene to Penelope. ### [Penelope Lapham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/penelope_lapham) _family_ Sisters who are close but experience tension when Tom Corey's affections shift from Irene to Penelope. ### [Tom Corey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/tom_corey) _romantic_ Irene is initially infatuated with Tom, believing he is courting her, but he ultimately prefers Penelope. ### [Tom Corey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/tom_corey) _romantic_ Irene is initially infatuated with Tom, believing he is courting her, but he ultimately prefers Penelope. ### [Silas Lapham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/silas_lapham) _family_ Irene is Silas's younger daughter, whom he dotes on and hopes to see marry well. ## In the story ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/ii) Accompanies her mother in Canada and is the object of Tom Corey's attention; her mother notes his behavior toward her. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/iii) Receives the Texas newspaper and secretly treasures it, cutting out the article and placing it in her mirror. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/v) Mentioned as the pretty sister, though not directly involved in the conversation. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/vi) Irene is mentioned as having a headache from walking too long on the beach, and Corey politely expresses his sympathy. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/viii) Mentioned as the pretty sister with a wonderful complexion, though Tom's response is evasive. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/ix) Meets Corey at the new Beacon Street house; discusses Middlemarch and plans for the library, asking Corey for book recommendations. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/x) Sits quietly, looking pretty, and listens to Penelope's drolling; defers to her sister in conversation. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xii) Returns home after the call ends; is confused by Penelope's reaction and questions her mother about the visit. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xiii) Eagerly defends Mrs. Corey's intentions and encourages her mother to accept the invitation. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xiv) Present at the dinner, looking beautiful but not talking much. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xvi) Mentioned as being out with her mother at the Spanish Students' concert. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xvii) Unaware of the truth, she continues to talk excitedly about the Corey dinner and her hopes regarding Tom. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xviii) The sister who initially believed Tom Corey was courting her; her heartbreak is a key concern for the family. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xxvii) Returns from her visit hardened and toughened, showing businesslike acumen and ignoring the past with her sister and Corey. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/irene_lapham - 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