Tom Corey Gender Roles

Gabby Budenski
Professor Imbarrato
English 200
22 October 2014
The Fall of Gender Roles
19th century literature offers a very important insight into how life and customs are constantly evolving. William Dean Howell
’
s,
The Rise of Silas Lapham
, provides a clearer depiction of how societies view of men and women change with the times as well. Gender roles play a huge role in
The Rise of Silas Lapham in the regard that men and women in the 19th century had very direct roles. Howell portrays this brilliantly within his work and how at the the turn of the century, gender roles are an important facet in everyday activities.
Howell
’ s characters in his novel,
The Rise of Silas Lapham
, shed light on gender roles in such a way
One such character that bends societal norms of what it means to be a man is
Tom Corey. Tom
’
s character is presented in such a fashion that differs than those older than him, like his father, in the novel. Tom
’
s independent and head strong personality allows him to break away from what is wanted from his father. Tom Corey breaks away from the patriarchy by falling for a woman who doesn
’
t fit the societal norms of what it means to be a women. Thus, strengthening a new definition of what it means to be a strong male lead in a
19th century novel.
19th century gender customs extend to more than one character in the novel. Penelope
Lapham, daughter of Silas Lapham, shares many characteristics with Tom Corey. Penelope, being independent and outspoken isn
’
t the typical woman of said century. Her roles outside of the home and opinions on matters that shouldn
’
t concern her offer insight to the ever

changing role of the woman. Penelope
’
s plainness and lack of
“
beauty
”
also confirm that women are not meant to be to looked at and appreciated but rather able to go after what they desire and be who they want to be. In the novel, this is idea of supposed beauty is conveyed
Breaking free from the societal norms that were thrust upon Tom, Penelope also finds herself in a situation where she destroys the gender roles that once defined what it meant to be a woman of the 19th century. In the midst of conversation with Tom Corey, the Lapham sisters find themselves talking about literature. Penelope asserts herself into the conversation,

“
I
’ ve just got it out of the library; I heard so much talk about it,
”
(88). Penelope, admitting her love for literature inadvertently also allows her vast knowledge and eduction come through.
Silas Lapham further assures Tom of Penelope
’
s literary knowledge,
“
I guess Penelope does most of our reading,
”
(88). This scene is important to the overall idea of the gender role that defines Penelope because it explores her in depth knowledge and opinions on the subject of literature. William Dean Howell
’
s
The Rise of Silas Lapham gender roles are constantly being bent and transformed to fit the needs of the characters. Powerfully constructed characters and well-rounded scenes offers a clear depiction of what it meant to be a man or a woman in