57 pages • 1 hour read
William Dean HowellsThe Rise of Silas Lapham
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1885A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Background
Authorial Context: William Dean Howells and Realism
William Dean Howells was born on March 1, 1837, in Martins Ferry, Ohio. He was born into a modest family, the second of eight children. His father, William Cooper Howells, was a printer, and his mother, Mary Dean Howells, instilled a love for literature in her son at an early age. As a young boy, Howells showed a keen interest in reading and writing, which led to his career in journalism and literature. His early experiences in a newspaper office kindled a passion for the written word and he quickly distinguished himself as a bright and talented young writer.
After completing his schooling, Howells worked as a typesetter and printer, honing his skills and gaining valuable insights into the world of publishing. During this time, he also contributed to various newspapers and magazines, a precursor to his future prominence as a critic and essayist. In 1861, at the age of 24, Howells was appointed as an assistant editor for the prestigious Atlantic Monthly. It was at the Atlantic Monthly that Howells developed strong relationships with prominent writers and intellectuals of the time, such as Henry James, Mark Twain, and Oliver Wendell Holmes, among others.
Howells is perhaps best known for his role in promoting literary Realism in the United States. This literary movement aimed to depict life as it was, without romanticizing or idealizing it. Howells was an ardent advocate of Realism, believing that literature should reflect the everyday struggles and triumphs of ordinary people. Howells’s first novel, Their Wedding Journey (1872), is often cited as an exemplary work of American literary Realism. The novel focuses on the everyday experiences of a newlywed couple, shunning extravagant plots and sensationalism in favor of a faithful depiction of their lives. This commitment to truth and authenticity set the tone for Howells’s future work and left an indelible mark on American literature.
Likewise, A Modern Instance (1882) delves into the complexities of a failing marriage, grappling with issues such as divorce and women’s rights. The Rise of Silas Lapham explores similar ideas, with Penelope criticizing contemporary literature and culture for being overly sentimental. The conflict between Sentimentality and Realism in literature of the era is explored in a Literary Context below.
In addition to his fiction, William Dean Howells made significant contributions to literary criticism. He was a passionate champion of new American authors and played a crucial role in launching the careers of several literary greats, including Stephen Crane, Hamlin Garland, and Henry James. Howells’s mentorship and encouragement of Henry James, in particular, had a lasting impact on the latter’s career and the development of his literary style. In 1900, President William McKinley appointed Howells as the United States Consul in Venice, Italy, marking a significant turning point in his career. Upon returning to the United States in 1902, Howells continued his writing and remained an influential literary figure. He published numerous works during this period, including novels, short stories, and essays. William Dean Howells passed away on May 11, 1920.
Historical Context: The American Gilded Age
The Gilded Age, a period spanning roughly from the end of the American Civil War in 1865 to the turn of the 20th century, marked a transformative era in the history of the United States. This period was characterized by unprecedented economic growth, technological innovation, and the rise of powerful industrialists, juxtaposed with widespread poverty, social inequality, and political corruption. The name “Gilded Age” suggests an outward appearance of prosperity and grandeur, but beneath the surface lay significant societal challenges and disparities.
The United States saw the rapid growth of industries such as steel, railroads, oil, and manufacturing. Technological advancements, like the telegraph, telephone, and the electric light bulb, revolutionized communication and daily life. Entrepreneurs and business magnates—including John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, and Cornelius Vanderbilt, figures resembling Silas Lapham—amassed immense fortunes through their control of key industries. Despite the apparent prosperity of the era, the Gilded Age was also marked by stark economic inequality. A small portion of the population accumulated vast wealth, while the majority of Americans struggled to make ends meet. The industrial workforce often faced grueling working conditions, low pay, and minimal job security as work became wage-based and hourly. This disparity gave rise to the term “robber barons” to describe wealthy industrialists who were seen as exploiting workers for their own gain.
As a response to the harsh working conditions and low wages, labor unions gained momentum during the Gilded Age. Workers organized strikes and labor protests to demand better pay, shorter working hours, and improved workplace safety. Notable events like the Haymarket Affair in 1886 and the Pullman Strike in 1894 highlighted the intense struggles between labor and management. Political corruption was also rampant during the Gilded Age, with political machines, such as New York’s Tammany Hall, exerting significant influence over city politics. The spoils system, in which government jobs were distributed as political favors, led to patronage and nepotism. However, reform movements began to gain traction as people recognized the need for cleaner and more transparent governance. Figures like Theodore Roosevelt and journalists such as Upton Sinclair advocated for political and social reform.
The Gilded Age witnessed significant urbanization as people flocked to cities in search of employment and economic opportunities. Large cities, including New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia, experienced explosive population growth. Simultaneously, a massive wave of immigration from Europe added to the urban population, bringing diverse cultures and traditions to American cities. The Gilded Age was also a time of cultural and intellectual flourishing. The era produced renowned American authors like Mark Twain and Henry James, who commented on the complexities and contradictions of American society.
The Gilded Age came to an end around the turn of the 20th century. The period was characterized by its extravagant displays of wealth and opulence, which were often superficial and built on a foundation of labor exploitation and corruption. As the 19th century drew to a close, the United States faced both the challenges and opportunities presented by its industrial and urban transformation.
Literary Context: Realism and Sentimentality
Two contrasting literary modes that have long existed in tension with one another are Sentimentality and Realism. Sentimentality in literature refers to a style of storytelling that prioritizes exaggerated or overly emotional expressions of feeling, even melodrama, and often manipulates the reader’s emotions to provoke sympathy, or pathos. This approach typically emphasizes idealized characters and situations, where moral virtue and goodness are glorified. Sentimental literature often employs heightened emotionalism, emphasizing strong emotions such as love, sorrow, and compassion. Characters tend to express their feelings in an exaggerated and melodramatic manner. Sentimental narratives frequently feature characters who embody almost flawless moral virtue, making it easy for readers to empathize with and admire them. Similarly, Sentimental literature can manipulate readers’ emotions by presenting situations and characters designed to evoke specific emotional responses, such as pity or sympathy. The resolution of conflicts in such works is often achieved through the power of sentiment, virtue, or moral rectitude, presenting a worldview where goodness ultimately triumphs.
Realism in literature, on the other hand, seeks to represent the world as it is, depicting everyday life, characters, and situations in a truthful and unembellished manner. Realistic literature often strives for objectivity and authenticity, portraying the complexities of human existence without idealization. The Rise of Silas Lapham is an example of Realist literature that contains Howells’s own criticisms of sentimentality through the comments of Penelope. Realistic literature is characterized by its commitment to verisimilitude, or the accurate portrayal of reality. It aims to present life and human experiences as they are, without embellishment or romanticization. These narratives often feature complex, multidimensional characters who exhibit both strengths and flaws, mirroring the diversity and imperfection of real people. Additionally, Realistic literature frequently takes place in ordinary, everyday settings, reflecting the mundanity and challenges of life. Realistic literature also emphasizes the importance of detail, providing readers with a vivid and specific portrayal of people, places, and events. Realistic storytelling tends to adopt a more objective narrative stance, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions and interpretations from the presented material.
The most fundamental distinction between sentimentality and Realism in literature lies in their treatment of emotion. Sentimentality prioritizes emotionalism and often amplifies it, while Realism seeks to depict emotions in a more restrained and genuine manner. Sentimental works aim to elicit emotional responses, while Realist works aim to observe and understand them within the context of human existence. In sentimentality, characters are often idealized and tend to represent the best aspects of human nature. Realism, in contrast, presents characters with flaws, imperfections, and moral ambiguity, reflecting the complexities of real life. Realist characters are more relatable because they reflect the true human experience.
Sentimental literature seeks to engage readers’ emotions directly and often presents a more prescriptive moral viewpoint. Realism, on the other hand, engages readers through its reflection of life’s multifaceted nature, inviting them to interpret and draw their own conclusions. Sentimental literature typically conveys a more optimistic and idealistic worldview, where goodness and sentimentality often lead to resolutions and redemption. Realism, conversely, often explores the ambiguities of life, portraying the world as a place where actions have consequences and where there is no guarantee of a happy ending.
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