Chicago World Fair
1893 Chicago was one of the most revolutionary times in United States history; the Chicago World Fair was in full effect and became a total success, despite those who disregarded it. Although the fair only lasted 6 months, it changed the future all for the better. This time was full of pure joy and exciting change; however, not all was entirely well in the White City. Nearly right around the corner a darker, more twisted occurrence was at large. Notorious serial killer H. H. Holmes recognized a rare opportunity to satisfy his dark fancies within the widespread of newcomers flooding the Chicago streets for the fair. In The Devil in the White City, author Eric Larson expresses, in explicit detail, the irony of both the good and evil occurrences …show more content…
A beautiful portrait of the fair is built with Larson’s detailed depictions of “the buildings, waterways, and scenery” (Larson 274) within this spectacle. The clear pictures painted in the reader’s mind transports them to this wonder-filled attraction. However, more disturbing images are depicted in subtle ways, like the fact that Holmes “often smelled vaguely of chemicals” (Larson 46.) An image of horror conjures within the mind of the reader at this seemingly minuscule detail. The beauty and novelty of fair existing parallel to the grotesque nature of Holmes’ past times can only be excused as pure and unadulterated dramatic irony. The brilliantly cogent pictures Larson captures with his words really represent the all too real and terrifying realities that were taking place during the magic of the …show more content…
The fair at this time was the greatest thing that could have happened to the United States; however, within the same Illinois borders, the worst was occurring. Chicago’s equally amazing story of murder, lies, and betrayal also became world-renowned and, as unlikely as it may have been, both stories took place simultaneously. The success of the fair parallel to Holmes’ own twisted success is ingeniously laid out by Larson and his excellent usage of rhetorical devices. Larson’s use of superb juxtaposition, hauntingly realistic imagery, and high-level language finalize the ironic nature of the darkness within the White
Light And Dark In Erik Larson's The Devil In The White City
743 Words | 3 PagesThe Chicago World Fair stirred many emotions in this great time of industrialization, but not only was Chicago shining in the spotlight from the fair, it was also promoting something much more sinister, this dark enclosing spotlight shined directly on H.H Holmes. Burnham the leader of the World Fair and H. H Holmes the notorious serial killer, are the two main characters in this novel that Erik Larson uses the balance between light and dark between these two’s personalities. In the novel The Devil in the White City Erik Larson uses Imagery, paradox, and alliteration to show the balance between the light and dark in the ever growing city of Chicago. Imagery paints an ever expanding picture for the audience, the detailed descriptions such as “but his eyes are as blue as ever, bluer at this instant by proximity to the sea" (Larson 3).
How Did The Chicago World Fair Of 1893 Impact The City Of Chicago?
1680 Words | 7 PagesChicago had to fight for their right to host the fair as it was competing with many, already great, cities for that spot. Fighting for this right lead the city politics to become corrupt since they were doing everything in their power to gain the opportunity to hold the fair in their city. Introduction: In 1893, the World’s Columbian Exposition
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Kevin Boyle's Arc Of Justice
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How H. Holmes Changed America's Culture Of The Gilded Age
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Denotation Of Words In The Poem Chicago, By Carl Sandburg
469 Words | 2 PagesNot only does the “terrible burden of destiny” (32) present as a standalone phrase with linguistic manipulation, but the phrase also contributes to Sandburg’s theme in which the worst and best of situations peacefully coexist. Surrounding the “terrible burden of destiny” is a “young man… Bragging and laughing” (32-36), a city with a “pulse” (36), and “the heart of the people” (37). Intertwining the vivid language of life with a dark “burden” exemplifies that the darkness of the city exists within the lightness of the city. Illustrating an animated city despite the “painted women” (7) and “gunm[e]n” (10) Sandburg shows the city “building, breaking, [and] rebuilding” (29) displaying action coinciding with destruction by necessity. Sandburg shows that growth comes as a result of death through the “rebuilding” of Chicago shortly after “breaking.”
The Devil In The White City Essay
1116 Words | 5 PagesThe Chicago World’s Fair was an opportunity for the city to come together and create event so spectacular to shock the world. However, as Chicago prepared to awe people with this extravagant fair the city faced skepticism on weather or not issues of urbanization, sanitation, and crime would be fixed in time for the World’s Fair. In beginning of the novel, Larson takes the reader back to the start before Chicago wins the bid for the World’s fair to be held in Chicago. The idea of the World’s Fair in the United
The Devil In The White City Rhetorical Analysis
819 Words | 4 PagesThe Devil in the White City Rhetorical Analysis Essay The Chicago World’s Fair, one of America’s most compelling historical events, spurred an era of innovative discoveries and life-changing inventions. The fair brought forward a bright and hopeful future for America; however, there is just as much darkness as there is light and wonder. In the non-fiction novel, The Devil in the White City, architect Daniel Burnham and serial killer H. H. Holmes are the perfect representation of the light and dark displayed in Chicago. Erik Larson uses positive and negative tone, juxtaposition, and imagery to express that despite the brightness and newfound wonder brought on by the fair, darkness lurks around the city in the form of murder, which at first, went unnoticed.
The Devil In The White City Analysis
1584 Words | 7 PagesThe Devil in the White City The Devil in the White City is a historical non-fiction book written by Erik Larson that reads like a novel. The book follows two, real main characters, during the building and existence of the Chicago World’s fair. The first is an American architect named Daniel Burnham.
Compare And Contrast The Devil And The White City
870 Words | 4 PagesHolmes, the mysterious serial killer. Burnham and Holmes have many similarities, the biggest one being their sheer determination to reach a goal or get what they want, which is used towards the manufacture of good, or the manufacture of sorrow. However their differences separate them apart, their biggest difference being their actions, as one build the World’s Fair and does this for the wellbeing of everyone, while Holmes uses his talent to kill many people, and cause commotion in Chicago and such. In conclusion, Erik Larson tries to show the underlying difference between good and evil, and how no matter what, evil is accompanied by good, and vice versa. Even the title of the book “The Devil in the White City” shows the most prominent theme of this amazing novel, by Erik
Analysis Of John Berendt's Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil
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The Devil In The White City Book Report
1904 Words | 8 PagesThe Devil in the White City gives a unique glimpse into how there is both bad and good existing in the city. In my opinion the point of the book was to show how both good and bad coexist in one place. Sometimes with the knowledge of the other existing. The book was written by Erik Larson and published by first vintage books. Published almost 14 years ago the book is still relevant today and still has much to teach us.
Why Did Holmes Choose Chicago
824 Words | 4 PagesThe most influential people in Chicago during the time of Holmes’ killings were worried about one thing: The World’s Columbian Exchange. Men like Daniel Burnham were working thousands of men, day and night, in order to finish the Fair on time. This too was killing innocent men. Most people in Chicago were preoccupied with their own lives, they rarely noticed when people went missing. The selfishness in Chicago and the fear of ruining Chicago’s reputation, enabled Holmes to get away with
Diction And Syntax Analysis: Columbian Guards
135 Words | 1 PagesThe use of diction and syntax in this section creates an irritating atmosphere to stress the annoyance of the Columbian Guards. Larson’s evocative word choice for “disease” emphasizes the visitors' contagious curiosity as if they were part of a newspaper press. This displays to the readers as a stressful event for the Columbian Guards as they’re continuously “hammered with questions.” Furthermore, syntax was used in “the fair was so big, so beyond grasp” to create a fragmented and tiring effect for the readers due to the unimaginable pool of people inside of the fair. The fragmented phrases were embedded again in “it was a disease, a rhetorical smallpox” to convey the Columbian Guards harsh depiction of the visitors' nuisances.
Essay Comparing The Monkey's Paw And The Story Of An Hour
546 Words | 3 PagesThis first sentence in the passage immediately makes the reader wonder about the setting and what’s going on. In other words, the author W.W. Jacobs grabs the reader’s attention by making the readers think and be curious about
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