The "financier" of Theodore Dreiser, the reviews of which are given in this article, is one of the most famous novels of this American writer. Included in the famous "Trilogy of Desire" and first saw the light in 1912. Its continuation was the work of "Titan" and "Stoic". The basis of the story is the real fate of the American millionaire Charles Yerkes.
The meaning of the novel
The protagonist of Theodore Dreiser's novel Financier, reviews of which allow us to form an idea of this book, is Frank Cowperwood. The author demonstrates how Frank has been growing in the financial and economic environment since the first years of his life. As a result, it is she who forms the psychology of a businessman in him.
Already in his teens, he becomes a businessman who understands that absolutely all means are good for achieving this goal. This is the only way to achieve wealth and power.
Cowperwood begins with small stock speculation. Over time, he acquires a condition sufficient to bribe municipal officials and conduct larger and more profitable transactions. However, the ending of his career is disappointing. The Theodore Dreiser's book, The Financier, talks about how the main character first goes to jail, and then is forced to leave his native Philadelphia.
"Trilogy of desire"
Financier becomes Dreiser's first Wish Trilogy. In a second novel titled Titan, he talks about Cowperwood's life in Chicago. There, his fate, in fact, is repeated, but in a more expanded format. The life of the protagonist develops in a spiral.
The novel "The Stoic" describes the last years of the hero's life. This trilogy became fundamental to American and European literature at the beginning of the 20th century. Dreiser vividly depicts the mores and everyday life that prevail in the modern financial environment. The way business is treated in society, as well as the connections of businessmen and politicians.
In his novels, Dreiser exposes the predatory nature of Cowperwood and similar financiers. But at the same time, the author can not help but admire the financial giant that he has succeeded.
One of the main functions of the trilogy “Financier”, “Titan”, “Stoic” by Theodore Dreiser is to demonstrate the lack of ethics and moral principles in the cruel capitalist world.
Summary of the novel
At the beginning of this work, the childhood of the protagonist is described. Frank Cowperwood still in school attracts the world of finance and big bucks. He turns his first real commercial adventure at age 14. The initial capital is earned from the resale of soap.
In high school, Frank is actively interested in attractive girls. But he was not destined to finish his studies. At 17, he drops out of school to start working.
The "financier" of Theodor Dreiser, a summary of which is given in this article, gives a detailed idea of his appearance. He drops out of school with a tall and broad-shouldered youth of a pleasant appearance. He has beautiful and curly brown hair, and a lively thought is always visible in his eyes. The view remains impenetrable.
His father's name is Henry. He works at a bank; there are always a lot of guests in their house. At one time, a couple of Samples became frequent with them. Frank is just fascinated by the 24-year-old Lilian. And at first, he himself can not understand what attracted him so much to her. Indeed, in her mind and abilities, the girl was clearly not equal to him. But Cowperwood conquered her appearance. Lilian has thick lush hair, which has an ashy shade, and gray eyes, depending on the lighting, constantly turn into dark or light blue.
Romance with lilian
The Theodore Dreiser's Financier (from the Wish Trilogy) details the life path of Cowperwood.
In his life, big changes are taking place when it soon becomes clear that the husband Lilian suddenly died unexpectedly. Frank is five years younger than his lover. But this age difference does not bother him at all, he actively begins to care for the subject of his sighs, captivates a more experienced woman, as a result, she agrees to marry him. Frank's dream comes true.
Together they live four years. During this time, they have a son, whose name is also Frank, and a daughter named Lillian.
To the top of the financial world, Cowperwood begins to erupt from the bottom. He works in small companies and firms, trying to put together a decent initial capital. Over time, opens its own accounting and bill business.
Frank, in the book The Financier, by Theodore Dreiser, is betting on the development of horse-drawn railways in the near future. He begins to actively invest in this industry, invest big money, buy up shares. At this time, Cowperwood realizes that, without exception, all officials in Philadelphia are dishonest and engaged in speculation. It turns out that honestly breaking through in this life is simply impossible.
U.S. Civil War
Part of the events of Theodore Dreiser’s novel "Financier" takes place in the United States amid the Civil War, in which the North confronts the South. The main character enlisted the support of Edward Butler - Irish nationality. He takes a big loan from him and declares himself as a major financier, able to compete with the powers that be.
At that time, Butler is a prominent political figure in the United States, has significant ties in high society circles. Butler himself strongly sympathizes with the novice financier, who somehow reminds him of his youth, when he was only at the beginning of his journey.
The novel describes in detail the relationship of the protagonist with new friends. In "The Financier" by Theodor Dreiser, the content of which allows you to get a full impression of the author’s work, Frank begins to pay attention to Butler’s daughter, whose name is Eileen. She is only 18 years old, she has blue eyes and beautiful red hair.
Butler, along with his entire large family, and he has another daughter and two sons, often begins to visit the Cowperwoods. Eileen each time greatly annoys Lillian, who, most likely, while unconsciously, sees her rival in her. Also unhappy girl is Frank's sister Anna, who does not like the constant whims and fervent disposition of Eileen.
Frank himself holds a completely different point of view. He considers the girl cheerful, lively and attractive. Eileen reciprocates. She constantly plays the piano and sings when Frank returns home from work in the evening.
Key deal
Around the middle of the novel, the main character concludes a key deal, which becomes the culmination of the novel The Financier by Theodore Dreiser. In the reviews, readers note that these are perhaps the most intense pages of the work.
Cowperwood begins to collaborate with George Stiner. This is the city treasurer, whom everyone considers a toy in the hands of experienced politicians from the Republican Party - primarily large financial bigwigs such as Butler, as well as Senator Simpson and Mollenhower. For them, Stiner is a convenient person, with the help of which he manages to wrap money through the city budget. Cowperwood is also attracted to the work. All participants in this dark deal receive good dividends.
At the same time, Frank is taking the initiative to start buying up shares of horse-drawn railway companies through nominees behind the backs of the three main power workers of the state. Stiner helps him in this.
At the same time, Frank and his father are engaged in the business of building mansions that are interconnected. Also, the main character begins to collect works of art, he has a good taste.
Romance with Eileen
In the novel "The Financier" by Theodore Dreiser, reviews of which are mostly positive, a romantic line is also visible. Frank and Eileen start an affair.
The girl has a strict Catholic education, but at the same time she does not consider sincere love as something criminal. Frank, however, is completely unfamiliar with religious and moral prejudices. He goes through life under the motto "My desires are above all."
A heavy blow awaits him in 1871, when the Chicago fire almost completely destroys his well-being. Fire is raging in the commercial part of the city, panic occurs on the stock exchange.
At this time, Cowperwood put into circulation half a million dollars from the city treasury. Stiner is not in the city, so he fears that the public will know about it. Butler tries to help him get out of this situation and brings him together with two influential people, each of whom sees his own benefit in what is happening. Both of them sympathize with Frank, but do not consider it necessary to help.
Relations between Butler and Frank instantly deteriorate. The first receives an anonymous letter stating that his daughter is dating Cowperwood. Irish in anger, especially Eileen’s reaction confirms that all this is true. Butler even decides to drown Frank.
The plot against Cowperwood
Clouds begin to gather over Cowperwood, - this is how Theodor Dreiser describes him in The Financier. The summary of the novel provides an opportunity to get an idea of what is happening.
Frank could have been saved by another loan from Steener, who is returning to the city. But the weak-willed employee of the municipality financial giants persuade not to help Frank.
At this time, an anonym of similar content comes and Lillian. However, it does not indicate the name of her husband’s mistress. She admits to herself that she initially feared a difference in age. Now these fears are justified. But due to the presence of children and her usual settled routine, she decides not to say anything to Frank and stay with him. Especially now, when he is at the stage of bankruptcy.
In order to somehow escape, Frank declares himself bankrupt, but, despite this, he is accused of deliberately stealing from the city treasury. At the same time, Butler is trying to persuade his daughter to leave Frank, but all to no avail. Then he goes to extreme measures, hires a private investigator who hunts down Eileen and Cowperwood in a date house.
Offended by Eileen leaves the house and settles with her friend. Only Frank convinces her to return home. The father understands that he is not able to influence his daughter, he hopes only for the conviction for Cowperwood.
Financier protection
Theodore Dreiser showed the whole life of the bankers and dealers of America in his trilogy. “Financier”, “Titan”, “Stoik” - three novels that clearly demonstrate what people are ready for for the sake of money and fame.
Cowperwood employs an experienced lawyer named Harper Steger to escape. But both the prosecutor and the judge are Butler’s people, so there’s little chance that he will convince them.
The only hope for jurors. But she does not make excuses. The jury passes a guilty verdict. The stager appeals, but is rejected. Frank sentenced to a real term. He will spend 4 years and 3 months in custody.
Theodore Dreiser in "Financier", "Titan" does not get tired to demonstrate the masculinity and fortitude of his protagonist. He takes this blow, although for his family it is a great tragedy. Only in young Eileen remains the determination to fight for the fate of Frank.
In prison, Cowperwood is witnessing a striking contrast between his former life and the environment in which he finds himself. The chamber is dark and is inhabited by rats. He has to weave chairs in order to somehow brighten up prison life.
Life in prison
But in prison, our hero does not disappear. Theodore Dreiser literally admires him in The Financier. In reviews of the book, many readers noted that in this part of the novel they were imbued with sincere compassion for the fate of Cowperwood.
He manages to establish close relations with the head of the prison, Desmas. For the money, Frank agrees to be allowed to receive things and goodies from home. More often than other prisoners, he can write letters and communicate with visitors. At the first opportunity, Eileen comes to her beloved.
Frank is losing his temper on this date, probably the first time in his life. He cries on his lover's shoulder. Eileen helps him pull himself together.
The character of the work manages to be released earlier. In just 13 months. This is largely due to the death of Butler. Eileen was cold to her father until the very end. And when her brothers found out what was the true reason for this, they openly despise her sister.
While Cowperwood was in prison, his case continued to live. He was led by an honest fellow by the name of Wingate. Frank himself constantly consulted him, so the company remained afloat. When he was released, he was able to continue working, now as a broker.
An important moment of the work comes when it becomes known that a large credit institution that has invested a lot of money in the construction of railways in undeveloped territories is declared bankrupt. At the stock exchange panic, only Frank remains calm. It is his finest hour.
In a few days he makes a huge fortune and becomes a millionaire. Now you can leave Philadelphia. Moreover, in these places he no longer has a previous reputation due to arrest and prison.
Frank divorces Lilian and, with Eileen Butler, is leaving to build a new life in Chicago.