# Silas Lapham — The Rise of Silas Lapham character guide > Silas Lapham in The Rise of Silas Lapham by William Dean Howells. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Lapham, Si, Colonel, Colonel Silas Lapham, Colonel Lapham, the Colonel, Mr. Lapham **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Snapshot A self-made paint millionaire whose blunt energy built an empire, now straining to convert wealth into social standing without losing the ground under his feet. ## Who they are Lapham clawed his fortune out of a Vermont paint mine and wears his success like armor, bragging that the Works' fire has never gone out. He wants Boston's old families to accept him, yet he cannot stop being himself—too loud, too proud, too honest for drawing rooms that run on indirection. When he hires Tom Corey and eyes the Corey name for his daughters, his business ambition and social hunger fuse, setting the family on a course that will test what his money is really worth. ## Relationships ### [Tom Corey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/tom_corey) _professional_ Silas hires Tom as a business partner and is impressed by his social standing, while Tom admires Silas's self-made success. ### [Irene Lapham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/irene_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_ Penelope is Silas's elder daughter, more intellectual and independent, often clashing with his bluntness. ### [Bartley Hubbard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/bartley_hubbard) _professional_ Bartley is a journalist who interviews Silas for a newspaper article, representing the public eye. ### [Mrs. Corey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/mrs_corey) _social_ Mrs. Corey is a Boston Brahmin who reluctantly socializes with the nouveau riche Laphams. ### [Zerrilla Millon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/zerrilla_millon) _professional_ Zerrilla is a poor young woman whom Silas employs out of pity, though it causes gossip. ### [James Bellingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/james_bellingham) _social_ James Bellingham is a wealthy Bostonian and club member who interacts with Silas in social and business circles. ### [William](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/william) _professional_ William is a servant or employee in the Lapham household, attending to Silas's needs. ### [Walker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/walker) _professional_ Walker is a clerk in Silas's paint business, with a subordinate working relationship. ### [Mrs. Lapham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/mrs_lapham) _family_ Mrs. Lapham is Silas's wife, who provides moral grounding and often worries about his pride and business decisions. ### [Tom Corey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/tom_corey) _professional_ Silas hires Tom as a business partner and is impressed by his social standing, while Tom admires Silas's self-made success. ### [Tom Corey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/tom_corey) _professional_ Silas hires Tom as a business partner and is impressed by his social standing, while Tom admires Silas's self-made success. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/i) The subject of the interview, recounting his early life, family, and the discovery of his paint mine. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/ii) Discusses the Corey family with his wife, reveals he owns land on Beacon Street, and considers building a new house. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/iii) Shows enthusiasm for building his new house, especially the pile-driving; becomes sullen and defensive when confronted by his wife about his treatment of Rogers. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/iv) Visits the new house with his family, whittles pine, brags about his paint business, and later discusses his impressions of Tom Corey with his wife. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/v) Discussed by Tom and Bromfield Corey. Tom defends his character, describing him as simple-hearted and wholesome, despite his vulgarity and bragging about money. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/vi) Lapham is in his shirtsleeves at the office, initially defensive about the Hubbard interview and wary of partners, but he listens to Corey's proposal to join the paint business. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/vii) Exultantly brings Tom Corey home, enjoys the prestige of the Corey name, and discusses Corey's business proposal with his wife. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/viii) Discussed indirectly; Tom talks paint with him, and he is the subject of the Coreys' conversation about business and social standing. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/ix) Proudly boasts about Tom Corey working for him, but is restrained by his wife from inviting Corey to Nantasket; takes Corey for drives and shows him the new house. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/x) Lends money to Rogers, reconciles with him, and later brings Tom Corey home to supper; shows pride and stubbornness but also a willingness to heal old wounds. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xi) Struggles with pride and social insecurity; considers inviting Bromfield Corey to a fish dinner but is rebuked by his wife. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xiii) Insists on accepting the dinner invitation, dismissing his wife's and Penelope's reservations, and shows pride in the social opportunity. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xiv) Feels out of place at the dinner but later becomes boastful, dominating conversation about his business and success. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xv) Lapham is consumed with shame and self-loathing after his drunken behavior at the Corey dinner, repeatedly asking Corey if he was drunk and offering to release him from the business. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xvi) Returns home late in a fierce mood, briefly encounters Corey, and dismisses him abruptly. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xvii) Irritated by the girls' absence from breakfast, he suspects Tom Corey's late visit was about Irene. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xviii) Struggles with the news about Tom Corey's true intentions, initially defensive but ultimately seeks guidance from Reverend Sewell. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xix) Drives home with Persis after consulting Sewell, supports Irene during her walk, and accompanies her to the apothecary for sleeping medicine. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xx) Discusses his business troubles with Milton Rogers, defending his past actions. ### [Chapter XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xxi) Confronts Rogers, rejects the dishonest deal, and confides in his wife about his financial decline. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xxii) Struggles with business fluctuations, becomes irascible and secretive, but finds comfort in Penelope's company. ### [Chapter XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xxiii) Confesses his stock market losses to his wife and deals with the Millon women's confrontation at his office; refuses Tom Corey's investment offer. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xxiv) Struggles with financial decline, refuses Tom Corey's offer, considers selling his new house to avoid assignment, and grapples with pride and despair. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xxv) Travels to West Virginia to negotiate a merger with competitors; struggles to raise capital upon return; sells a patent and meets with Rogers. ### [Chapter XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xxvi) Absent from his office when Mrs. Lapham visits; returns from New York looking spent and haggard, then faces her accusations and leaves abruptly. ### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xxvii) Reflects on his past mistakes, brags about the extension of his business under his son-in-law, and hosts Reverend Sewell at his farm, showing pride in his clean-handedness despite his failure. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/silas_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