The Femme Fatale in American Literature By Ghada Sasa

When Mr. Lapham follows her advice and takes on a partner, Mr. Lapham struggles with Mr. Rogers throughout the novel. Mrs. Lapham manipulates her husband in feeling sympathetic toward Mr. Rogers because Mr. Lapham had bought him out of their mutual business. She constantly reminds Silas of the wrong he has committed toward Mr. Rogers, making him feel guilty and allowing Mr. Rogers to come back into their lives. Yet, her purpose in doing so is to prove that she is right and he is wrong. The fact that she constantly strives to prove herself right takes us back to the idea that she was his school teacher, higher than he, more knowledgeable, and more experienced than he. By reasoning with Mr. Lapham time and time again about the unjustifiable wrongs he has committed against Mr. Rogers, Mrs. Lapham is in fact trying to prove that she is a better judge of character than her husband. When Silas finally gives in to the idea of making amends with Mr. Rogers by helping him out financially, she is satisfied only because Silas has given in to her opinion. “The lord has been good to you, Silas…I believe he’s interfered this time; and I tell you, Silas, it ain’t always he gives people a chance to make it up to others in this life” (107). The ruin of Silas begins because he follows his wife’s advice in the beginning and takes on a partner and ends because he follows her advice and makes amends with Mr. Rogers.

Toward the end of the novel when Mr. Lapham is crumbling and is in desperate need of guidance and support, he finally chooses not to confide in and trust his wife. This, I believe, is part of the growth of Mr. Lapham. He finally comes to the realization that he has been misled by his wife, first by making amends with Mr. Rogers, and second in building the house on Beacon Street.