Limitless Paint in a Paintless World

I absolutely love the undertones of humor in Silas Lapham. Howells is a genius of subtle, situational comedy. The interview for “Solid Men of Boston” that brilliantly opens the novel, introduces the two main themes: social status and ethical business manners. The Lapham parents offer their daughters a chance to live like millionaire’s daughters, but the girls could care less. The daughters are aware that their family is different from the other Bostonians with old money. Bartley sees evidence this false sense of aristocracy as the interview progresses and the reader is given a glimpse of even more evidence through flashbacks. 

Silas’ love of his mineral paint business ruins him for actually making anything of it. Had he loved it less, he might have been able to share in his business instead of attempting to hoard his success. This is where the difference between love and obsession come into play. There is love in letting go. He has no problem letting his daughters go and marrying because he truly loves them and he wants them to prosper and have lives of their own, but he wants his paint business for himself with no help. The funny thing is, there would be no paint business had it not been for his wife, his father, and Roger- the three people who supposedly are not as passionate about mineral paint as Silas. But it is this passion and Michael Scott-like sense of decision making skills that ultimately drive his business into the ground. This “passion” is also sporadic and fleeting for Silas, as is typical of passions. “He continued a dilenttante, never quite abandoning his art, but working at it fitfully, and talking more about it than working at it.” Discipline is necessary in any art, even wall paint. This particular quote reminded me of a starving artist who has run out of ideas for new paintings and is awaiting inspiration. The contrast of selling the cousin of an artist’s medium and applying it to the world of business results in a man whose motivation cannot keep up with his ambition.

I feel for Silas, and I hope to learn from his mistakes. Do NOT try to pursue your dream alone.

On a side tangent, I think that the reason Irene and Penelope both fell for the same man is the lack of a sensible, “solid” man in their life, and Tom is the opposite of their father. Sorry, Freud.

This might be a stretch, but it cracks me up that their last name is Lapham. Get it? Laugh at ‘em! No? Ok…