The Devil In the White City Blog #2

Throughout American history, our forefathers have created and displayed America as one of a kind amazement. Thus the world fair was born; a tool to launch our civilized country into a prosperous nation conceived on jealousy and materialism. The World’s Fair in Chicago was a monumentous event for the people of America, especially the architects of the “White City”. The men working to design the fair did so with a vision, a vision that appeared to be impossible in the amount of time given. They worked diligently to finish the fair on time but as with everything in life there were some unexpected setbacks. In the text from the book above, Larson describes the collapse of the fair’s main building under the pressure of snow and wind. Even with this delay the workers and architectures worked even harder to build a stronger building in half the time. Their determination proved successful and eventually the extravagant vision for the fair became reality. From what I understand, the World's Expo was intended to be nothing more than a celebration of the anniversary of Christopher Columbus' discovery of America.  However, the World's Expo ended up being so much more than that.  The people strived to do so much more than that.  The people saw the awe-inspiring World's Fair in Europe. They also believed they could construct the Fair on not the greatest foundation. All this was due to their hubris. The Fair engendered a "darker, destructive parallel," also because they tried building during their very harsh winters. They needed to complete the Fair on time, so that required them to work through the winter. However the harsh weather constantly destroyed buildings, causing them to have to repair. Many times they killed or injured workers. When things are rushed, destructive traits always follow. While the fair appeared beautiful and immaculate it was indeed tormented by a darker parallel. Among the happy innocent bystanders there were thieves, cheaters, and killers. A certain man by the last name of Holmes used the fair as a way to lure travelers into his “World’s Fair Hotel” where he would then murder them. Holmes is the mold for the classic American psycho, he is smart and charming on the outside yet on the inside he is something completely different. The presence of Holmes shows the common archetype of a pure “white city” tainted by the evil within, because where there are people there is evil. As within every great attraction, there is always something lurking in the dark. Without this distinct parallel that exists Larson's novel could not have been produced, or written as a factual account of America. You must accept the good, and deal with the bad which is directly established in the pages one hundred ninety six to seven. By pointing out the destruction of the fair by arrogance and to distinguish dark that always parallels good Larson's novel parallels these features perfectly.

Evil Imminent

       In The Devil in the White City, Erik Larson portrays the lives of two men during the 1893 World Fair in Chicago. An architect working to design the fair and the other a serial killer working as a henchman to the devil. In the note, “Evils Imminent”, in the beginning of the book Larson writes, “Beneath the gore and smoke and loam, this book is about the evanescence of life, and why some men choose to fill their brief allotment of time engaging the impossible, others in the manufacture of sorrow. In the end it is a story of the ineluctable conflict between good and evil, daylight and darkness, the white city and the black.” Larson does this right at the beginning of his book before the story even begins, using techniques with his language to make the reader ponder and start to wrap their mind around a story of mystery and murders, a nonfiction story.  He use “Evil’s Imminent” as an introduction to reveal what his novel will contain; two men of good and evil, Burnham and what would be the stories, Chicago’s  evil imminent, Holmes. Larson uses words like gore, smoke, and loam to establish the scene of the crimes and the where the story will take place in Chicago in the 1800’s full of people, smells, behaviors only known to people of this time.  In this page we are able to understand what conflict the novel will be presenting, the main idea.  Burnham and Holmes are described as blue eyed and passionate similarly.  However, a clear contrast is Burnham’s passion is for architecture while Holmes’s is for murder.  These men will both rise to the top famous of their actions while both using passion and personal determination, they will showcase their lives for everyone to see. The main difference between these men is their use of talents. Burnham used his talent and expertise to design and build large edifices; Holmes used his keen nature and good looks to design and carefully execute murderous acts. Also, their title and attitudes were different. Burnham was a high-profile, respected, famous architect who was proud of his accomplishments; Holmes keeps his work off the record and under the table. When juxtaposed, they are very similar in their successes, but when further inspected, the light and dark, good and evil are revealed. I find it nothing short of miraculous that he was able to lead the fair to completion in so short a time, against obstacles that would have stymied a lesser man. Meanwhile, here was Holmes, himself something of an architect, building a hotel that was a parody of everything architects held dear — yet that in its own way was equally, if darkly, miraculous: a building designed for murder. I found it so marvelously strange that both these men should be operating at the same time in history, within blocks of each other, both creating powerful legacies, one of brilliance and energy, the other of sorrow and darkness. Throughout the story we notice a direct juxtaposition with good and evil, light and dark, the White City and black, which just as the scene is contrasting it flows well with the characters who are being contrasted and developed at the same time.  The note that Larson leaves for us to read prepares the audience for what they are really about to leave, giving only a hint, and showing that good and evil will be at war in the story but only time will tell who will rain superior through the perfection.