Stoik

In "Stoic", Cowperwood, still formally married to his estranged wife Aileen, moves to London with the intention of taking over and developing the London Underground railway system. In London, he maintains a relationship with Berenice Fleming, while at the same time beginning an affair with Lorna Maris, a cousin of his business associate. He attempts to set Aileen up with another man, which angers her when he discovers his intentions. Cowperwood dies of Bright's disease, and his inheritance is lost in legal disputes. Aileen also dies soon after. Berenice travels to India, where she is deeply moved by the poverty and, upon returning to the United States, decides to establish a hospital for the poor, fulfilling Cowperwood's unfulfilled wish. ​

Through "Stoic", Dreiser explores themes of ambition, morality, and the consequences of the relentless pursuit of power and wealth, providing insight into the complexities of human nature and social relationships.