Themes play an important role in every novel. In The Rise of Silas Lapham by William Dean Howells uses many themes from the novel which he expresses through the actions of the characters. In the novel, a business affair dominates a secondary love triangle. Silas Lapham makes a fortune in the paint business through opportunism, greed and ambition. He wants his daughter to marry into the high-class Corey family to achieve the high social status that the Laphams of the woods have never achieved. Silas's conduct in managing his affairs and Irene's love story are based on the same set of materialistic values ​​that unite the two stories. In the novel The Rise of Silas Lapham, author William Dean Howells uses themes to develop characters with both Silas and Irene. Through the character of Silas, Howells illustrates the themes of wealth, ambition, rise/fall as Silas faces challenges with social standing throughout the novel. One would think that, as a result of Silas's enormous fortune achieved through his work in the paint industry, he would have ranked high in social standing. However, in giving the reader a clearer sense of the Laphams' wealth, Howells states: “They took trips and lavished themselves on cars and hotels; they gave with both hands to their church and all the charities it introduced them to; but they didn't know how to spend for society" (p. 25). Howell's parallel structure in repeating "they" is followed by a distinct action - highlighted by the words "gone, lavished and given" - emphasizes and gives impetus to the contrast seen in the phrase "they did not know" in reference to their inability to connect with company. Because of Silas's extreme wealth plus his very strong desire to......middle of paper......g their pride than the idea that Lapham shouldn't be able to do everything for his daughter that the Coreys might have expected it. (page 307-8). However, thanks to Irene's moral renewal, she recovers from the fall to get back up again. Therefore, through the themes of hope, marriage, and rise/fall, Howell is able to show Irene's journey as she experiences hope, rise, and fall. The author, William Dean Howell, writes themes in The Rise of Silas Lapham to develop characters with both Silas and Irene. So overall, the author uses themes throughout the book to express the characters. Both characters Irene and Silas are parallel to each other and both express themes of the novel through their actions. The big idea is that both Silas and Irene were developed as separate characters but in the end they also came together and helped each other..