Capital And Speculation In The Gilded Age Essay

“It was the age of confidence. Arrogance was epidemic.” (Laskin, The Children’s Blizzard.) In William Dean Howells’ elaborate novel, The Rise of Silas Lapham, we follow Silas Lapham, a newly rich business man who accumulated his wealth in America during the Gilded Age. Throughout the story, Lapham experiences a rise-fall-rise as the founder of a paint business coming from a humble background. He was seen as a “fine type of the successful American,” (Howells 3) who was able to work his way up in society through his skill of being able to recognize opportunity and his ambition to reach his goals. But since the protagonist was not raised in a wealthy environment, he is also willing to lie, cheat and steal in order to fit in with the upper class.

It gave people misplaced confidence, some say an expansive economy required, “unlimited reliance upon human promises'' (Lears 345). Which were later proved to be false. Most of the population was divided between the rich and poor, Lears explains, “The decades after the civil war saw the emgergence of a freewheeling entrepreneurial society where capital was unregulated by government and government was manipulated by business men to serve their own needs.” (Lears 343) William Howells demonstrates Lear's ideas through Silas Lapham's cockyness. "I've got all I can do to take care of myself without trying to take care of the whole world" (Howells 45). This quote shows how Silas did not care about the rest of society because he was too focused on his own victories. Lapham often ignored his wife's needs and had a dismissive attitude towards her. "He had often silenced her with the imperiousness of his will and the apparent force of his reason" (Howells

In her article, “From Howells and the popular story Paradigm: Reading Ailas Lapham’s Proairetic Code” The “Alger Hero” speaks for the American dream, the belief that anyone can be successful in America no matter your background, culture, or upbringing. “The Alger hero represents a triumphant combination- and reduction to the lowest common denominator- of the most widely accepted concepts in nineteenth century American Society. The belief that the potential greatness of the common man, the glorification of individual effort and accomplishment, the equation of the pursuit of money with the pursuit of happiness and of business success with spiritual grace” (Murphy 430). Silas Lapham shares some similarities and differences with the “Alger Hero.” Like the Alger hero, Lapham shows dedication, ambition, and courage to achieve his dreams."He wanted to be rich, and he wanted to be somebody" (Howells 87). Although Lapham can symbolize the “Alger Hero” they are also different in several ways. "I suppose there are folks that might think I hadn't dealt quite fair with you about that quarry, but I guess you won't be one of them, Mr. Sewell" (Howells 181). Silas admits to a business partner that whilst working together, he has been dishonest and others may agree, but he does not expect Mr. Swell to feel this way and still continues to defend