The Rise of Silas Lapham
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The Rise of Silas Lapham is an 1885 realist novel by William Dean Howells that explores social class, moral integrity, and the American business ethic through the story of a self-made paint manufacturer in post–Civil War Boston.
Statements (46)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
novel
→
realist novel → |
| adaptation |
stage adaptations
→
|
| author |
William Dean Howells
→
|
| centralConflict |
Silas Lapham’s moral choices in business and society
→
|
| containsCharacterType |
Boston Brahmin family
→
self-made businessman → |
| countryOfOrigin |
United States
→
|
| depicts |
a self-made paint manufacturer
→
|
| examines |
consequences of speculative business practices
→
interaction between nouveau riche and established elite → |
| firstPublishedIn |
The Century Magazine
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|
| focusesOn |
conflict between business success and moral duty
→
|
| genre |
realism
→
|
| includedIn |
American literature curricula
→
|
| laterPublishedAs |
book
→
|
| literaryMovement |
American realism
→
|
| literarySignificance |
key novel in William Dean Howells’s career
→
major work of American realism → |
| mainCharacter |
Anna Corey
→
Bromfield Corey → Irene Lapham → Penelope Lapham → Persis Lapham → Silas Lapham → Tom Corey → |
| narrativePerspective |
third-person narration
→
|
| originalLanguage |
English
→
|
| protagonist |
Silas Lapham
→
|
| publicationForm |
serial
→
|
| publicationYear |
1885
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|
| publisher |
Ticknor and Company
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|
| setInPeriod |
post–Civil War era
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|
| setInPlace |
Boston
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|
| settingFeature |
Back Bay Boston
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Boston business world → |
| theme |
American business ethics
→
ethical responsibility in business → family relationships → moral integrity → old money versus new money → rise and fall of a self-made man → romantic love → social class → social mobility → |
| timeOfAction |
late 19th century
→
|
Referenced by (1)
| Subject (surface form when different) | Predicate |
|---|---|
|
William Dean Howells
→
|
notableWork |