The Devil In The White City Analysis
The 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. The book follows his struggle and work to put this huge fair together, and also make it a huge profiting attraction. He faces many obstacles and internal conflict while doing so. The second is H. H. Holmes, an insane serial killer who was active during the existence of the fair. He had different businesses and practices he would use to lure women, in order to kill them and sometimes the women in their families. The book takes place in Chicago during the early 1890s, as …show more content…
I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would and do think it is a good read. I think this book gave a really unique take on the Chicago World’s fair. It was cool to see the contrast between Burnham’s parts and Holmes’. Larson also showed all of the decisions leading up to the fair and not just how it was after. There was a lot of behind the scenes included. Larson also chose to include some backstory of Holmes and his life after being caught for some of his crimes and not just how he chose to kill his victims. Larson really tells the full, and true story of the Chicago world’s fair surrounding Burnham and Holmes. The most impressive part was the incredible detail that Larson included, while keeping the story nonfiction, and historically accurate. I was able to learn about the huge amount of planning for the Chicago World’s fair and what it was like for the average visitor. I also got to learn about the serial killer H. H. Holmes, and how different crime was treated back then. Overall The Devil in the White City is the accurate story of the Chicago World’s fair that I learned a lot of information from, and would
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1499 Words | 6 PagesReagan Carter Period 4 Devil in the White City Reading Log The "Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson is a nonfiction novel that reveals the chaos of Chicago. The novel mostly takes place in Chicago around 1890-1893 while towards the end of the novel it takes place in 1895 Philadelphia. Larson recreated two men that would live in Chicago. The two men will have different plots and will each provide a meaning in one another.
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.
Oklahoma State Fair Research Paper
622 Words | 3 PagesAfter walking through the crowded parking lot, it is time to purchase a ticket. The Fair has multiple discount days including opening day, school kids day, super saver Tuesday, and senior citizens day. Anticipation builds from this point on. There are in array of activities
The Devil In The White City Analysis
1287 Words | 6 PagesThis sharp contrast of the fair can be seen with the ferris wheel. “The wheel may not have been unsafe, but it looked unsafe” (pg. 280). They did not realize what the real dangers were, they merely saw the small pleasures of life as a threat. This author uses this method of juxtaposition in order to bring more proof that the reality of many situations in the novel are not always what is perceived. This quote establishes how the fair was well-known in a completely different notion than it should have been.
Summary Of The Devil In The White City
514 Words | 3 PagesThroughout “The Devil in the White City,” author Erik Larson uses contrasting descriptions to portray the sharp differences between the magnificence of the fair and the harsh and cruel reality of Chicago. The awe-ing descriptions of the fair and the dark interpretation of the streets of Chicago comments on the beautiful facade that the Gilded age produced. The temporary and shallow grandeur of the fair masked the poverty stricken city and gave a false sense of elegance to a city deep in despair. Larsons vivid descriptions of the beauty and elegance of the fair serves to reinforce the idea of its temporary masking of the city. He describes the fair as an art piece, a historian calling it, “no more the white city on the lake… it is dreamland.”
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.
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Symbolism In The Devil In The White City
118 Words | 1 PagesThe non fiction novel, “The Devil in the White City”, is filled with twists and turns as author Eric Larson compares the lives of two men thought to be living two entirely different lives. Chicago’s World Fair, in remembrance of the landing of Columbus in America, is a major aspect in the lives of both men, named H.H Holmes and Daniel Burnham. In this specific passage, however, the literary element of symbolism is applied and very well so. The illuminations lighting up the city symbolizes positivity. With European rivals always “one step ahead”, the lights covering Chicago specifically give a sense of hope and America’s potential to be improved.
Essay On The Gilded Age
861 Words | 4 PagesIn addition to educational exhibits, the fair also provided an opportunity for entertainment. The world 's first Ferris wheel performed on the fair 's Midway, as did a zoo, a fun house, and a swimming pool. Not only did foreign countries send authorized displays, entrepreneurs also accumulated displays depicting life in the villages of less prosperous countries. Many people who went to the fair took side tours to see shows, which had set up just outdoor the fair grounds. The fair made Chicago the nation 's informal capital in the summer of 1893, but by the spring of 1894 the city was again mainly known for its ongoing struggle between employers and workers.
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
The Devil In The White City Essay
1116 Words | 5 PagesIn Erik Larson’s novel The Devil in the White City takes place during the Gilded Age. During this period of time everything appears good and golden on the outside when in reality everything was full of corruption. In the novel, the author takes the reader to the city of Chicago, where the city is “swelled “in population causing the city to expand in all “available directions” (Larson 44). As Chicago became the “second most populous [city] in the nation after New York” there was an urge that city show off to the world and the nation of how great it was through the Chicago World’s Fair (Larson 44).
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Comparing The Gilded Age And The Roaring Twenties
1141 Words | 5 PagesThe World's Fair of 1933 was dedicated to representing the future, meaning the significance of scientific and technological discoveries to industry and modern society. The Fairs purpose was also meant to show how these discoveries were being made and how they worked. Just how the 1893 World's Fair has a name, the Chicago World's Fair of 1933, was called a Century of Progress. The Fair of 1933 represented modern advancements from around the world in art, literature, as well as architecture. Theses modern advancements included new automobile designs, houses of the future, and babies living in incubators.
The Devil In The White City Character Analysis
581 Words | 3 PagesW. Mudgett. Extensive detail is included regarding the differences between each character—their personalities, desires, and behaviors—that allow the reader to synthesize information such as why Mudgett has psychopathic tendencies and why Burnham was raised differently from Mudgett, thus contributing to his contrasting actions and roles within the story. As the plot progresses, Burnham is blessed with success as the World’s Fair attracts thousands of visitors and provides humanity with a certain “pride.” Mudgett, conversely, uses the World’s Fair as an opportunity to fulfill his own sick interests. Burnham gives to humanity, while Mudgett drains his fellow
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