# Hosmer Hand — The Titan character guide

> Hosmer Hand in The Titan by Theodore Dreiser.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Hand, Mr. Hand, Mrs. Hosmer Hand, old Hand, Hosmer

**First appearance:** 0033-xxxiv-enter-hosmer-hand

## Snapshot

A wealthy director of banks and mercantile institutions, Hand burns with slow, hot revenge when Cowperwood dares to venture on his domestic preserves.

## Who they are

Hand is a man of few experiences with women, and his young wife's affair with Cowperwood astonishes and enrages him precisely because he had been so fond of her. His standing as a director in the city's principal financial institutions gives him the power to do real harm, and his personal grievance fuses with the business community's growing suspicion of the interloper. He becomes the emotional engine of the campaign against Cowperwood, a reminder that in Chicago's financial world a wounded husband and a doubtful credit can be the same weapon.

## In the story

### [XXXI: Untoward Disclosures](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xxxi-untoward-disclosures)

Wealthy financier who lends Cowperwood money; unaware of the affair between Cowperwood and his wife.

### [Mr. Lynde to the Rescue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xxxiii-mr-lynde-to-the-rescue)

Mentioned as the husband of the woman (Mrs. Hand) involved in Cowperwood's latest rumored affair.

### [Enter Hosmer Hand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xxxiv-enter-hosmer-hand)

A wealthy financier and director, deeply angered by Cowperwood's affair with his wife, he seeks revenge by uniting financial and political forces against Cowperwood.

### [An Election Draws Near](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xxxvi-an-election-draws-near)

Identified as the key figure behind the opposition campaign against Cowperwood.

### [An Hour of Defeat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xxxviii-an-hour-of-defeat)

Allies with Schryhart and Arneel in the scheme against Cowperwood.

### [The New Administration](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xxxix-the-new-administration)

Confronts Gilgan about the aldermen's loyalty and writes down names of supposed recalcitrants to pressure them.

### [A Trip to Louisville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xl-a-trip-to-louisville)

Part of the financial opposition against Cowperwood in Chicago.

### [A Franchise Obtained](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xliv-a-franchise-obtained)

Urges Sluss to block Cowperwood's franchise, representing the opposition.

### [American Match](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xlvii-american-match)

Part of the group of enemies plotting against Cowperwood; involved in backing American Match.

### [XLVIII: Panic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xlviii-panic)

Member of the quadrumvirate; resentful of Cowperwood's profit, participates in the conference against him.

### [Mount Olympus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xlix-mount-olympus)

Part of the quadrumvirate, he supports calling Cowperwood's loans and views the meeting as a chance to deal a blow to Cowperwood.

### [A New York Mansion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/l-a-new-york-mansion)

Vows to fight Cowperwood to the finish after being beaten in the financial crisis; receives support from Schryhart.

### [Wanted—Fifty-Year Franchises](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/liv-wanted-fifty-year-franchises)

Ultraconservative financier who distrusts public agitation but supports efforts to hurt Cowperwood.

### [Cowperwood and the Governor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/lv-cowperwood-and-the-governor)

Collaborates with Schryhart to oppose Cowperwood's legislative plan.

### [LVIII: A Marauder Upon the Commonwealth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/lviii-a-marauder-upon-the-commonwealth)

Co-leads the opposition committee and is accused by Cowperwood of pulling strings behind the scenes.

### [LIX: Capital and Public Rights](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/lix-capital-and-public-rights)

Staunch opponent of Cowperwood; initially refuses to sell his holdings but eventually yields under pressure from Frankhauser.

### [LXI: The Cataclysm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/lxi-the-cataclysm)

Former ally now part of the opposition press against Cowperwood.

### [In Retrospect](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/in-retrospect)

Grouped with Schryhart as a venomous man who died eventually puzzled by his conflict with Cowperwood.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/characters/hosmer_hand
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/characters