# Tom Corey — The Rise of Silas Lapham character guide > Tom Corey in The Rise of Silas Lapham by William Dean Howells. **Role:** major **Also known as:** young Corey, Corey, Tom **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Snapshot A gentleman's son who chooses trade over leisure, entering Lapham's paint business and finding himself caught between two sisters and two worlds. ## Who they are Tom Corey has the manners of his class and none of its money, so he does the unthinkable: he asks for a place in a paint merchant's office and works at it in earnest. His father is delighted, Lapham is flattered, and Boston is puzzled. Earnest, scrupulous, and a little stiff, Tom moves through the Lapham household with a courtesy that everyone reads differently—and when his real intentions surface, his decency will be tested against the damage his presence has already done. ## Relationships ### [Silas Lapham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/silas_lapham) _professional_ Silas hires Tom as a business partner and is impressed by his social standing, while Tom admires Silas's self-made success. ### [Penelope Lapham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/penelope_lapham) _romantic_ Penelope and Tom fall in love, leading to a complicated courtship that hurts Irene. ### [Irene Lapham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/irene_lapham) _romantic_ Irene is initially infatuated with Tom, believing he is courting her, but he ultimately prefers Penelope. ### [Mrs. Corey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/mrs_corey) _family_ Mrs. Corey is Tom's mother, who is concerned about her son's marriage to a socially inferior family. ### [Walker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/walker) _professional_ Walker is a clerk in Silas's paint business, working under Tom's supervision. ### [James Bellingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/james_bellingham) _social_ James Bellingham is a family friend of the Coreys, moving in the same upper-class social circles. ### [Silas Lapham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/silas_lapham) _professional_ Silas hires Tom as a business partner and is impressed by his social standing, while Tom admires Silas's self-made success. ### [Silas Lapham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/silas_lapham) _professional_ Silas hires Tom as a business partner and is impressed by his social standing, while Tom admires Silas's self-made success. ### [Penelope Lapham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/penelope_lapham) _romantic_ Penelope and Tom fall in love, leading to a complicated courtship that hurts Irene. ### [Irene Lapham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/irene_lapham) _romantic_ Irene is initially infatuated with Tom, believing he is courting her, but he ultimately prefers Penelope. ### [Irene Lapham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/irene_lapham) _romantic_ Irene is initially infatuated with Tom, believing he is courting her, but he ultimately prefers Penelope. ### [Penelope Lapham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/penelope_lapham) _romantic_ Penelope and Tom fall in love, leading to a complicated courtship that hurts Irene. ## In the story ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/ii) Son of the Corey family; he is grateful to the Laphams and attentive to both Mrs. Lapham and Irene. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/iv) Passes by the new house, recognizes Irene, and exchanges greetings with her; later discussed by the Lapham sisters. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/v) Returns home and discusses his meeting with the Laphams with his father. He defends Silas Lapham's character and reveals his interest in joining Lapham's business. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/vi) Corey visits Lapham's office and proposes to join the mineral paint business, offering his language skills and knowledge of foreign markets. He also interacts with the Lapham family at their summer cottage. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/vii) Arrives as Lapham's guest, expresses interest in joining the paint business and expanding into South America, and engages in family conversation. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/viii) Has spent his first day at Lapham's office, is in good spirits, and defends his decision to his mother. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/ix) Works diligently at Lapham's office, handles foreign correspondence, and shows deference to Lapham; meets Irene at the new house and discusses books with her. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/x) Visits the Laphams at Nantasket; walks to the boat afterward, feeling charmed and radiant, clearly smitten with Penelope. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xi) Discusses with his father the propriety of Bromfield Corey visiting Lapham; defends the Laphams' good sense. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xii) Mentioned as the subject of Mrs. Corey's concern; his involvement with the Laphams and his interest in one of the daughters is the focus of the visit. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xiii) Expresses concern about the dinner but is reassured by his mother; his attitude toward the Laphams is a source of family discussion. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xiv) Seems preoccupied during the dinner; brings word that Mrs. Lapham is ready to leave. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xv) Corey is deeply conflicted, torn between his social pride and his loyalty to Lapham and his love for Penelope. He ultimately decides to stand by Lapham and offer reparation for his earlier lack of sympathy. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xvi) Visits the Lapham house seeking Silas Lapham, but ends up conversing with Penelope about a novel and their feelings. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xvii) Visited the Lapham house the previous evening and proposed to Penelope, but his intentions remain unknown to Lapham. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xviii) His love for Penelope is confirmed, creating the love triangle that drives the chapter's conflict. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xix) Visits Penelope to clarify his feelings, explaining he never intended to court Irene and that his admiration was for Penelope all along. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xx) Confesses his love for Penelope Lapham to his mother, showing anxiety and relief. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xxii) Receives Penelope's note asking him not to visit and obeys without making any sign. ### [Chapter XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xxiii) Offers to invest $30,000 in Lapham's business; defends Lapham's character to Walker regarding the Millon incident. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xxiv) Learns from Bellingham about Lapham's financial difficulties and the reason for his refusal of the partnership offer. ### [Chapter XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xxvi) Mentioned in Bromfield Corey's thoughts regarding his marriage to Penelope Lapham. ### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/chapters/xxvii) Marries Penelope and moves to Mexico for three years to expand the paint business, leaving his family with a sense of loss. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rise_of_silas_lapham_se/characters/tom_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