The Rise of Silas Lapham is set in Boston in the mid to late 1800’s. Silas is an aspiring business man. When the book opens he is being interviewed by the local newspaper man for the column in the next morning’s issue. Silas is quite proud of all his accomplishments. He tells of the early days and how a paint mine was found on his family farm. His family did not try to work the mine and he began working in a Saloon. It was not until he wanted to paint the building that he thought about that paint mine on his family farm.
Within the first few years of producing the paint, Silas Lapham was making enough money to comfortably care for his family. As his wealth grew so did his pride. He is so self assured in his business that he begins to invest …show more content…
They are all the rage of the day. The Lapham family desires to somehow make them equal with the Corey’s. The only problem is that the Lapham’s are not comfortable with rich society ways. One night when they are invited to the Corey’s house for supper Mr. Lapham is not sure whether he should wear gloves for the event. This is only one of the times that their inadequacy in society shows.
Mr. Lapham hire Tom to oversee the sales of his paint in foreign countries. Tom fully believes in the paint and is committed to his job. He loves his job and in many ways looks up to Mr. Lapham. Mrs. Lapham wants Tom Corey to fall in love with their youngest daughter, Irene. The impression throughout the whole book is that Tom is enamored with Irene. It is not until near the end of the book that Tom reveals that he is in love with Penelope.
Irene is taken by Tom the minute she meets him. It is well known to her that her mother wants her to marry Tom and she has no objections. He is her dream guy, often dropping by the new house to check on the progress and see the girls. Every time Tom and Irene talk their topic is Penelope but it seems that Irene never realizes that he is totally taken with