The Corey dinner party illustrates what happens when the people of simple “good sense and right ideas” but not much else in the way of social graces (138) try to comprehend “the most elemental ideas of society as [the Coreys] understand it” (139). It provides the most memorable instances of the Laphams falling painfully short of the Corey’s standards and demonstrating yet again the futility of buying their way into a higher class without corresponding manners.
The most visible symbol of this for Silas is
the question of the gloves (182). He has absolutely no idea if he
is supposed to wear them (among other various articles of formal wear,
for that matter) or not. Like the female members of his family, he
consults the etiquette book ( for people whose manners are not inherent
in their good breeding) for advice. He doesn’t know if they are supposed
to be white or yellow, when he should take them off, or even how to get
them on.
The gloves are only the beginning though. Throughout the dinner, Lapham does everything that a gentleman shouldn’t and fails to accomplish everything that a gentleman should. He doesn’t know how to file in for dinner, he has no idea what to eat or how much, and he seems too keyed up to just let his natural common sense rule his actions. Lapham is not used to drinking wine, but fails to deny it or even drink it in moderation. He drains glass after glass, not even noticing when he “tosses off” a glass of an especially fine vintage. As a result, he gets quite drunk, talks up a storm until he is satisfied that he has everyone’s attention, and thus embarrasses himself in front of the Coreys and their guests. Even after the whole horrific event is over and Silas returns to work the next day with a hangover and a sense of guilt, he abases himself further by apologizing profusely, almost groveling before Tom Corey in a desperate attempt to right his wrongs. This single act does more to separate him out than all the previous blunders combined. Tom becomes so chagrined at the continuing lack of gentlemanly behavior that he leaves, feeling affronted, but resolves to try harder for Penelope’s sake.
A completely different setting but one that still shows Silas’ lack of knowledge regarding manners and decency occurs in the first scene, during the interview with Bartley. “Bartley had taken his seat on the window-sill, and Lapham, standing before him, now put his huge foot close to Bartley’s thigh; neither of them minded that” (14). This is not something gentlemen do in conversation. Neither of them notice it though, so it seems that neither have any hope for “making it” in high society. As the clichéd idiom goes, you can take the man out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the man. A little while later, Lapham invites Bartley to touch his leg just above the knee, where a Civil War ball has found a resting place. Again, a man like Bromfield Corey would not allow an acquaintance, much less a reporter, to touch his leg. Silas, you’re hopeless.