Silas Lapham is presented as a flawed yet admirable hero. As a self-made man who has become wealthy through his paint business, he possesses both virtues and vices. He takes pride in his wealth but lacks social graces and cultural appreciation. Throughout the novel, Silas faces realities about his moral failings, social class, and daughter's marriage that cause him to grow wiser though also sadder. He remains a hard worker who provides for his family, but his relationship with his wife becomes more distant as secrets grow around his business dealings.