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William Dean Howell's The Rise of Silas Lapham

ll never live there. Silas and Persis debate Silas' actions in buying out Rogers. That chance meeting with Rogers, and Persis' reaction, begins Silas' transformation.

Until that point, Silas does not have much to recommend him. He is not evil, but rather a rube, albeit a hard-working rube. The story opens with Silas being interviewed by a reporter about how he made his fortune. Lapham talks about nothing but paint and money, though he is keen enough to realize, ôI guess you wouldn't want my life without my moneyö (Howells 1). His life has no meaning outside of his fortune.

When we first meet Silas, he is a comic character. After the interview, the reporter writes a feature story on Silas that includes some jabs. But those knocks are too subtle for Lapham to notice. Similarly, Silas craves social acceptance, only they cannot find it living where they do. They are country folk, unaware that the right address guarantees entry to the social circles they desire. They also lack the social skills necessary to move in those circles.

Silas tries to remedy those failings by building a house and by fixing up his pretty daughter with Tom Corey, the son of a well-to-do family. But Silas is a bumbler, and he bumbles this. The new family home, in the ôrightö part of town, is big and ugly. Big and ugly summarizes how these country bumpkins behave in many respects, reflecting Howells' concern with the democratization of art. The nouveaux riches aspire to all of the trappings of wealth, including art and beauty, but they lack the education and refinement to appreciate it. As a result, they end up looking silly.

The Laphams' lack of sophistication is revealed when Silas offers his take on art to his daughter Penelope. ôIt's just like ordering a painting. You give the painter money enough, and he can afford to paint you a first-class picture. Give an architect money enough, and he'll give you a first-class house, ev...

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William Dean Howell's The Rise of Silas Lapham. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 03:53, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1709396.html