Silas Lapham

Silas Lapham is the hero and main character of the novel The Rise of Silas Lapham. He is born in 1820 to a family of poor farmers. He credits his success in life to his mother's lessons in morality and good living. His real wealth in life has come from a paint mine his father discovers on the family's farm in Vermont. Although his father tries his entire life to make this paint profitable, it is his son who actually turns the paint into a business.

As an adult, Lapham lives in Boston with his wife and two daughters. He is also the father of a son who dies. After the death of his son Lapham leaves his wife in charge of the paint business while he goes to fight in the Civil War. His life is spared when another man takes a bullet for him. Lapham feels...