The Rise of Silas Lapham · Theme
Pride and Humility
How The Rise of Silas Lapham develops Pride and Humility.
Lapham's pride in his success and his eventual humbling through financial collapse and social rejection form a central arc, emphasizing the dangers of arrogance and the value of humility.
Where it surfaces
- IV
Silas Lapham's pride in his business and his boasting at the building site are tempered by his wife's quiet influence and Irene's social anxieties.
- Chapter XI
Lapham's pride is wounded by his wife's criticism and his own awareness of social inadequacy; Bromfield Corey's condescension reflects a different kind of pride.
- XV
Lapham's abject humiliation and Corey's struggle with his own pride and sense of superiority illustrate the chapter's focus on pride and humility.
- XXIV
Lapham's refusal of Corey's offer and his reluctance to sell the house or declare assignment stem from pride, while his eventual willingness to sacrifice shows a grudging humility.