Summary
Publication Year: 1947
Literary Form: Novel
Narrative Style: Naturalism
Era: Early 20th Century
Setting: Chicago, New York, London, and Paris
Main Characters:
Frank A. Cowperwood: Eminent financier
Aileen Cowperwood: His second wife
Berenice Fleming: His mistress
Philip Henshaw & Montague Greaves: English engineers
Bruce Tollifer: Artist from the South
Lord Stane: English financier
Lorna Maris: Dancer from Baltimore
Marigold Brainerd: Associate of Tollifer
Dr. Jefferson James: Cowperwood's confidant and physician
Narrative Overview
Approaching the age of sixty, Frank Cowperwood finds himself defeated in his quest to dominate Chicago's transportation system through a fifty-year franchise. Despite his wealth, he and Aileen, his second wife, have yet to achieve the social status they believe is their due. Amidst this downturn, Berenice Fleming, a captivating woman Cowperwood has adored for eight years, surprisingly consents to become his mistress. Although Berenice is aware Cowperwood intends to remain wed to Aileen, she accepts his financial support for both her and her mother.
New Opportunities in London
With an untamed spirit eager for fresh ventures, Cowperwood turns his attention to a proposal by British engineers Philip Henshaw and Montague Greaves. They seek his financial backing for London's underground railway system, particularly the line connecting Charing Cross to Hampstead. Seeing an opportunity to unify these disparate lines, Cowperwood plans a trip to England, accompanied by Berenice, to secure funding and aim for control over the project.
Strategic Moves and Personal Lives
On the way to England, Cowperwood halts in New York to visit Aileen in their opulent residence. Initially inviting her to Europe, he then concludes that keeping her socially engaged would allow him more freedom with Berenice. To ensure Aileen's distraction, he employs the impoverished artist Bruce Tollifer to entertain her, providing him a generous allowance. Unaware of the manipulation, Aileen believes her husband’s invitation to Europe signifies a commitment to his marriage.
London's Business and Personal Intrigues
In London, Cowperwood realizes that controlling the Central Loop line is crucial to his ambitions. Enter Lord Stane, a British financier who aids Cowperwood in both his entrepreneurial and personal dealings. Meanwhile, Berenice leases a countryside estate from Lord Stane, and Tollifer persuades Aileen to venture to Paris, where he attempts to revitalize her appearance through fashion and fitness.
Continental Affairs and Expansion
While Aileen and Tollifer are in Paris, Cowperwood and Berenice savor their time in the English countryside and visit historical sites. However, Cowperwood's expanding business requires a return to the U.S. to source additional capital. Leaving Aileen in New York, he travels across the country. A chance encounter with Lorna Maris, a beautiful dancer claiming kinship, leads to a new romantic entanglement, prolonging his stay in America.
Conflict and Resolution
Back in England, Cowperwood's enterprise thrives. He, along with Lord Stane, gains control over the underground and its construction firm, eventually buying out the English engineers. Meanwhile, Aileen returns to Paris, only to discover through Marigold Brainerd that Tollifer's role was a setup. Feeling betrayed, she returns to New York, where Cowperwood plans to convert their mansion into a museum, entrusting Aileen with the renovations.
Final Days and Legacy
Suffering from deteriorating health, Cowperwood embarks on a Norwegian cruise with Berenice to rejuvenate. Yet, upon returning to work, his health worsens, diagnosed with Bright's disease. Determined to conclude his affairs, he constructs a family tomb and hastens to finalize his business dealings. A severe attack at Lord Stane's residence prompts Dr. Jefferson James to take Cowperwood on a therapeutic sea voyage, offering only short-lived relief.
Illness and Aftermath
Returning to New York intending to see Aileen...
(This entire section contains 846 words.)
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one last time, Cowperwood is critically ill and taken to the Waldorf-Astoria instead of his under-renovation home. Aileen arrives to find Berenice at his side during his final days, with her animosity lingering through his passing. While Cowperwood's financial standing seemed robust at death, his estate is embroiled in litigation over doubtful transactions, ultimately dissipating his fortune, pressuring Aileen to relinquish her dreams for a museum and hospital.
Berenice's Transformation
After Cowperwood's death, Berenice embarks on global travels, eventually engaging with Hindu philosophy in India for five years. This spiritual journey instills a sense of humanity and regret for her past choices, leading her to use her inheritance to establish a hospital, hiring Dr. James as its head. Working with handicapped children, Berenice discovers profound fulfillment, recognizing that Cowperwood's pursuit of power brought neither lasting joy nor true success, understanding that genuine impact often lies in small, meaningful acts.
Critical Reflection
The Stoic, the concluding volume of the trilogy following The Financier and The Titan, brings closure to Frank Algernon Cowperwood's saga. Despite his formidable vitality and ambition for material success, his legacy is marred by fleeting relationships and impermanent achievements. Theodore Dreiser refrains from moral judgment but highlights Cowperwood's inability to shape enduring legacies. Ironically, Cowperwood's dream of establishing a hospital is realized posthumously by Berenice, whose own philosophical awakening underscores the novel's exploration of ambition versus lasting impact. While Dreiser's narrative may falter with excessive financial details, his depiction of Cowperwood's relentless drive and subsequent impotence offers a compelling and thought-provoking read.