Rise of Silas Lapham

Rise of Silas
Lapham
{
A novel of manners, a problem
novel and a realist work
Presentation by Mary Ann Brewer & Cherie Heasley
Society is a compilation of cultures, cultures within
cultures. Each have their own explicit and implicit set of
manners (the rules).
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The Corey’s represent a dying breed of aristocratic
views, snubbing the notion of work. It appears to be
beneath them, and all that they stand for as refined,
civilized ladies and gentlemen.
The Lapham’s are self-made successful business
owners, who are overtly proud of the fruit of their labors,
but at the same time, struggle with climbing the social
ladder.
As a Novel of Manners
Two worlds mingle and collide while the tides
change. The personal goals of the two men, one
young and the other aging, alter unexpectedly with
no clear cut solutions.
As a Problem Novel
The Lapham’s and the Corey’s along with the other
characters in the novel are real and believable.
Howells beautifully paints a picture of the turmoil of
humans in the mundane and in the defining
moments of life.
As a Realist Work
The Lapham’s and the Corey’s along with the other
characters in the novel are real and believable.
Howells beautifully paints a picture of the turmoil of
humans in the mundane and defining moments in
life.
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Lapham’s and Corey’s both exhibit insecurities in
regards to their identities.
The novel has many similarities to Howells struggle
with identity.
As a Realist Work
Bromfield Corey and Silas Lapham were two unique
men. Although, they did have a rather great
commonality about them. Both men shared the
paint symbolism. Now of course, paint was
representative of different things to each. The
definition of paint is to cover, coat, conceal.
Typical Realist Work
Game Time!
Thinking Caps, Hands, & Team work
Climbing your way to the top whether fiscally or socially
has its dangers. There is a lot to lose on the way up. A
misplaced foot could cause a fatal slip.
In The Rise of Silas Lapham, William Howells weaves in
many instances/mindsets that position Lapham for
failure. What are one of the ways that he misplaces his
foot thus putting his wealth at risk?
As a Problem Novel
In The Rise of Silas Lapham, William Howells weaves in
many instances/mindsets that position Lapham for
failure. What are one of the ways that he misplaces his
foot thus putting his wealth at risk?
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Buying and selling stocks on the margin
Duped, he purchased property that was of no value.
He did not cut back the production when sales were
down.
His honesty in refusing to sell bad property at a profit.
His integrity in being honest with the painter suppliers of
West Virginia.
As a Problem Novel
Who can define the characteristic “Roman nose”
that Bromfield had referenced of his own father and
son, “Grandfather and grandson had both the
Roman nose” (69).
As a Novel of Manners
Who can define the
characteristic “Roman nose”
that Bromfield had referenced
of his own father and son,
“Grandfather and grandson
had both the Roman nose”
(69).
The “Roman nose,” had a long
bridge with a slight upturn to it.
As a Novel of Manners
Howells portrays the story, The Rise of Silas Lapham
with such accuracy that some readers had a difficult
time distinguishing its fiction from truth (xxiii). Name
one real event that happened because of this false
belief.
A Realist Work
Howells portrays the story, The Rise of Silas Lapham
with such accuracy that some readers had a difficult
time distinguishing it fiction from truth (xxiii). Name
one real event that happened because of this false
belief.
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A mineral painter identified his story with Lapham’s
to the point that he felt threatened when Lapham’s
paint began to be undersold.
A brand of paints was named after Silas Lapham.
Tourists wanted to see the house where the
Lapham’s lived.
A Realist Work
Name the character that bore the framework of Silas’
conscience?
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Bartley Hubbard
Milton Rogers
Persis Lapham
Penelope
As a Problem Novel
Name the character that bore the framework of Silas’ conscience?
Persis Lapham
As a Problem Novel
After finding out that Tom wants to work for a living,
Bromfield Corey believes Tom owes him an apology.
What is the offense?
A Novel of Manners
After finding out that Tom wants to work for a living,
Bromfield Corey believes Tom owes him an apology.
What is the offense?
“It strikes at the root of the whole feudal system. I really
think you owe me an apology, Tom. I supposed you
wished to go marry the girl’s money, and here you are,
basely seeking to go into business with her father” (67).
A Novel of Manners
In Silas’ loss of fortune, name any one of three things in
which he gained during his change of opinion towards
the books end? Keep in mind, at this juncture, realism
transitions into naturalism.
A Realist Work
In Silas’ loss of fortune, name any one of three things in
which he gained during his change of opinion towards the
books end? Keep in mind, at this juncture, realism transitions
into naturalism.
1.
2.
3.
His self-value
His self-knowledge
His self-respect
A Realist Work
The protagonist Penelope in Howells’ novel confesses,
“…I want to do what I oughtn’t so much that it seems
as if doing what I didn’t want to do must be doing
what I ought” (304).
What is Penelope referencing?
As a Problem Novel
What is Penelope referencing?
She is referencing her actions towards Tom Corey. She
pushed him away due to her father’s economic
problems, not wanting to saddle Corey with her and
no money.
As a Problem Novel
Howells writes, “This was his reward for standing firm for
right and justice to his own destruction: to feel like a
thief and a murderer” (332). What does this statement
reference?
A Novel of Manners
Howells writes, “This was his reward for standing firm
for right and justice to his own destruction: to feel
like a thief and a murderer” (332). What does this
statement reference?
Silas’ decision to accept the offer from Great
Lacustrine & Polar Railroad. This decision cripples
Silas financially, additionally, it destroys Rogers’
scheme, and without fail, Rogers blames Silas for
Rogers demise.
A Novel of Manners
In the article written by Bartley about
Silas Lapham, he refers to Persis Lapham
as,
“… one of those women who, in
whatever walk of life, seem born to
honor the name of American Woman,
and to redeem it from the national
approach of Daisy Millerism.” (21)
Which character in the novel is Howells’
ideal of future American woman, and
what are the characteristics?
A Realist Work
Which character in the novel is
Howells’ ideal of future American
woman, and what are the
characteristics?
Howells’ character Penelope Lapham
represents his vision for the future
American woman. She is “…at once
independent, witty, humanly sensitive,
and romantically vulnerable” (xxiii).
A Realist Work
Who mentioned, “It was absurd for him to paint
portraits for pay and ridiculous to paint them for
nothing; so he did not paint them at all” (70)?
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Tom Corey
Bromfield Corey
Anna Corey
Narrator
Bartley Hubbard
As a Problem Novel
Who mentioned, “It was absurd for him to paint
portraits for pay and ridiculous to paint them for
nothing; so he did not paint them at all” (70)?
Narrator
As a Problem Novel
Tom is eating with his father, Bromfield. His father makes
this statement about the Lapham’s, “Had they
knowledge enough to be ashamed of their ignorance”
(117). What is he referencing?
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Their lack of refined tastes in interior design.
Their lack of table manners.
Their lack of owning books.
A Novel of Manners
Tom is eating with his father, Bromfield. The father
makes this statement about the Lapham’s, “Had
they knowledge enough to be ashamed of their
ignorance” (117). What is he referencing?
Their lack of owning books.
A Novel of Manners
Where did the Lapham’s relocate to at the book’s
conclusion and once Silas began his dissension?
A Realist Work
Where did the Lapham’s relocate towards the book’s
conclusion and once Silas began his dissension?
Silas and his family moved back to his ancestral home in
Lumberville,Vermount.
A Realist Work
In one of the scenes, Tom defends the Laphams’ by
stating, “…they’re not unintelligent people. They are
very quick, and they are shrewd and sensible”. His
father then compares the Lapham’s to American
Indians Sioux tribe (118). Then he states that civilization
comes from:
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Literature
Blue blood
Private education
Novel of Manners
In one of the scenes, Tom defends the Laphams’ by
stating, “…they’re not unintelligent people. They are
very quick, and they are shrewd and sensible”. His
father then compares the Lapham’s to American
Indians Sioux tribe (118). Bromfield proclaims that
civilization comes from:
Literature
Novel of Manners
Select the correct word to describe the Colonel when
he said, “I have gone in for making a regular job of it.
I’ve got the best architect in Boston, and I’m building a
house to suit myself. And if money can do it, I guess I’m
going to be suited” (54).
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Flat
Boastful
Timid
As a Problem Novel
Select the correct word to describe the Colonel when
he said, “I have gone in for making a regular job of it.
I’ve got the best architect in Boston, and I’m building a
house to suit myself. And if money can do it, I guess I’m
going to be suited” (54).
Boastful
As a Problem Novel
Which protagonist of the Lapham clan would you
contrast when Bromfield asks, “…what have I done
nothing for, all my life, and lived as a gentleman
should, upon the earnings of somebody else, in the
possession of every polite taste and feeling that adorns
leisure, if I’m to come to this at last” (268)?
As a Problem Novel
Which protagonist of the Lapham clan would you
contrast when Bromfield asks, “…what have I done
nothing for, all my life, and lived as a gentleman should,
upon the earnings of somebody else, in the possession
of every polite taste and feeling that adorns leisure, if
I’m to come to this at last?” (268).
The protagonist Silas Lapham in contrast to Bromfield
Corey has toiled as a farmer and achieved something.
Whereas Bromfield Corey has travelled abroad and
acquired mediocre paint skills whilst his chief financiers
remained his father, and eventually his wife.
As a Problem Novel
What does the reference of
Daisy Millerism mean and does it
have significance to the story?
A Novel of Manners
What does the reference of Daisy
Millerism mean and does it have
significance to the story?
English professor, Thomas Foster
notes “Daisy Miller” is a novel
written by Henry James, where
the main character is desperate
to win society’s approval,
tragically leading to events that
result in her demise (18-19).
A Novel of Manners
Works Cited
Foster, Thomas C. How to Read Literature Like a Professor. Harper, 2003. Print.
Howells, William Dean. The Rise of Silas Lapham. New York: Penguin Group, 1986. Print.
---. The Rise of Silas Lapham. New York: Penguin Books, 1986. Print.
Images Used in Order of Appearance
1890 Beacon St. “Historic Boston.” reCities. Online image. 5 Sep. 2013.
Beach ball “6 Smart Fun Beach Ball Games for Preschoolers.” The Body Smart Blog. Online image.
5 Sep. 2013.
Lapham, Persis. Google Images. Google Images. Online image. 07 Sep. 2013
Images for a Roman Nose. Google Images. Google Images. Online image. 06 Sep. 2013
1887 Fashion Plate. 2 Feb. 2013. “Fashion Evolution – Part 1 of 2.” Ramblings of a Frivolous Freak.
Ghost Dance of the Sioux Indians. N.d. Google Images. Online images. 6 Sep. 2013.
Daisy Miller. N.d. Google Images. Online image. 6 Sep. 2013.