ipl-logo

The Devil In The White City Rhetorical Analysis

819 Words4 Pages

The 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. Larson’s positive word choice creates a …show more content…

The “gleam in the sun, a soft, white note in the dun-colored landscape, and the pure blue line of the lake horizon” paints a vivid image of the calm and tranquil scene Larson has created (129). Attention to color is mentioned throughout the novel to reiterate the liveliness of the city. The “soft yellows, pinks, and purples” and “brilliant blues” all span throughout the fair, adding to the beauty and lightness of the event (267). Conversely, previously the scene was pictured as peaceful and calm, but is later in the same sentence described as having a “rugged and barren foreground” (129). The contrast seen by the audience serves as a reminder that even though things may seem tranquil and at ease, there is still an undiscovered crime taking place at the same times. The contrasting images of the two views are able to stand out more vividly to the reader. The use of Larson’s imagery allows the audience to notice the naiveté of the people in Chicago because of the large focus on the brightness of the

Show More
Related

  • Summary Of The Devil In The White City By Erik Larson

    1140 Words  | 5 Pages

    The book, “The Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson, is intriguing by the title alone. I had not previously heard about the book or the major events in the book, so it was interesting being able to read without bringing presumptions to the text. The “White City” mentioned in the title is Chicago, Illinois where the meat of the story occurs. “The Devil” mentioned in the title, is referring to Herman Webster Mudgett, commonly known by alias Dr. H. H. Holmes. This novel follows the construction of the World’s Columbian Exposition Fair in Chicago by architect Daniel Burnham whom is striving to prove to the nation and world that he is capable of building never-before built concepts within unheard of time frames.

    Read More

  • Isabel Wilkerson Book Report

    522 Words  | 3 Pages

    I adored the way that the creator really took after genuine individuals sharing the hardships and in addition their determination attempting to improve lives for themselves and future eras. My motivation in composing this critique is to urge more individuals to peruse the book and particularly those that experienced childhood with the south side of Chicago as I did. In general, I observed this book to be extremely intensive and exceptionally moving. This is unquestionably a book everybody ought to peruse in any event once. I like how the creator made it a story alongside information about what it was like during the

    Read More

  • In The White City: Murder, Magic, And Exposition That Changed America By Erik Larson

    1124 Words  | 5 Pages

    When the Paris Exposition was first developed it was intended to be a major cultural fair that would highlight the successes of the modern world. Because of their large scale and elaborate design, the structures that were built to accompany this fair greatly influenced the concepts of fine architecture throughout the world. Soon the Paris Exposition became known as the major focal point of architecture for that time period. While this drove some architects toward eternal glory and fame, other major designers became enveloped with the concept of out doing the great works that had been exhibited in Paris, France. Throughout the novel Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America Erik Larson`s use of extravagant

    Read More

  • Detroit Arcadia Analysis

    846 Words  | 4 Pages

    This is perhaps most evident when Solnit describes Detroit as “not quite post-apocalyptic but … strangely – and sometime even beautifully – post-American” (Solnit 2). Cutting the phrases ‘post-apocalyptic’ and ‘post-American’ with beauty is Solnit’s first hint at a sort of hope after death. An idea that Detroit’s collapse provides a chance at a brighter future. This contradiction is utilized again when the piece portrays “a burned-out house … next to a carefully tended twin” (Solnit 3). The image of collapsing ruins neighboring a pristine home highlights the widespread deterioration happening across the city.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Techniques Used In The Devil By Goodman Brown

    124 Words  | 1 Pages

    The writer narrates a story of evil taking over an innocent man, revealing the fragility of human belief. In the story, the devil uses rhetorical techniques, such as logos and ethos, to lead Goodman Brown astray. By listing several examples of corruption, the devil successfully conveys Goodman that all people are standing on the wicked side. By calling fellow citizens “children”, the devil demonstrates that his ability, visionary, and authority are much greater than those of humans, showing that standing on the evil side is not only a “wise” option, but also a general trend. “Look up to Heaven, and resist the Wicked one” clearly shows that even though Goodman Brown has deep belief in Puritanism, he cannot help himself under the extreme

    Read More

  • The White City

    1450 Words  | 6 Pages

    A City of Prospering Light always shines through darkness, and that is just what the Chicago World’s Fair did during the 19th century. Regardless of mishaps and bleak points, such as the unfortunate successes of H.H. Holmes, the astronomical amount of positivity given to the world for years to come outweighed all of the negative points by far at the fair, also referred to as the Columbian Exposition. Inventions and architectural phenomena are delved into throughout the novelistic style non-fiction book The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. Larson took a bold approach and intertwined many storylines and lives of people throughout the construction and ongoing of the exposition. By doing so, he gave readers a unique insight into all of

    Read More

  • The Devil In The White City Essay

    1116 Words  | 5 Pages

    In 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).

    Read More

  • The Devil In The White City Analysis

    1584 Words  | 7 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • The Great American Fair Analysis

    1142 Words  | 5 Pages

    In The Great American Fair: The World’s Columbian Exposition and American Culture, Reid Badger spends a significant amount of time taking the reader on a descriptive tour of how the Chicago’s World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 originated, the planning process and the debates surrounding its purpose, the construction and architectural debates, the financial responsibilities and expectations, before diving into the fair’s relationship with and impact on American culture. Badger strays away discussing the fair itself, the social aspect of the fair is not really relevant to his conversation. Instead, Badger focuses on the massive opportunities the world fair offers, using the fair as a powerful communication tool, and the impact of its success

    Read More

  • The Devil In The White City Murder

    345 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Devil in the White City Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair that Changed America In the book the author tone switches from both casual and intense, as show through the two main characters, Burnham and Holmes Daniel Burnham was the architect who got a contract to build the Chicago World’s Fair with John Root in 1893, however John Root dies before the contraction even starts. The author describes the Devil in the White city as how wherever there is good, there is also evil. The purpose of the Chicago world Fair being built was to show the world the greatness of America. During the 1980s the United States was not in a good position, economical wise.

    Read More

  • Book Report On The Devil In The White City

    897 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Devil In The White City is a great book. Erik Larson has produced one of the best-written books ever. The way he weaves two highly intricate plots together in one book is astounding. This is the story of two men who never met, but each played large parts in the history of the United States. Daniel Burnham and his partner, John Root, are chosen as the lead designers of the 1893 Columbian Exposition, or the Chicago World 's Fair.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The Devil In The White City By Erik Larson

    739 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the late 1800s the Chicago World’s Fair was well on its way to becoming a modern marvel of the time, little did the fairgoers know that both good and a great evil lurked among them. The Devil in the White City is a historical nonfiction book written by Erik Larson, within it there lies two stories of two very different men. The tale of good follows the life of a young architect whose goal is to make an impact on the world. How will he accomplish this? By making the, “legendary 1893 World’s Fair”.

    Read More

  • Devil In The White City Book Report

    839 Words  | 4 Pages

    The White City, represents a time of prosperity and great opportunity of economic growth, along with the positive changes for women 's rights. Black City took over once the elegance of the world 's fair had vanished. Many lost their jobs and Chicago entered into a great depression. The book gave me an understanding of the importance of the World’s fair and how it has effected the citizens giving everyone hope and pleasure. Once the fair has ended I got to whiteness the reality of Chicago life, giving me an insight on the setting of the

    Read More

  • Literary Analysis Of The Devil In The White City

    1070 Words  | 5 Pages

    Literary Analysis of The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson Erik Larson is the author of numerous best-selling books, such as The Devil in the White City, which was based off Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. Larson splits this book into two plot lines, one focusing on serial killer H.H Holmes and his ideas and plans; and the other focusing on John Root and Daniel Burnham, who were talented architects that were appointed responsible for building the fair. The dominant theme of this book is the representation of good and evil. Larson can apply this theme to both plot lines and does an incredible job of combining the plot lines into a well written and understandable novel that is filled to the brim with suspense. Larson’s use of vivid descriptions allowed the author to portray Chicago’s successes from an abominable reputation that the city of Chicago once had.

    Read More

  • Juxtaposition Between The White City And The Black City

    1090 Words  | 5 Pages

    Larson uses this to display the different effects the fair has in the city. Contrasting “garbage” and “clean,” he displays a new and improved Chicago after the fair commences. Furthermore, the new “White City” introduces many benefits from the fair such as ambulance services and electric streetlights; this serves as a positive and innovative effect for the readers. Moreover, Chicago’s major transformation from the “smoke and garbage” of the “Black City” shows how much of an impact the surreal innovations of the Fair exhibits on the harsh reality outside of the dreaming city. The “Black City’s” expansion also kept growing as it got “bigger, taller, and richer” but also “dirtier, darker, and more dangerous” to convey the actuality of Chicago (27-28).

    Read More

More about The Devil In The White City Rhetorical Analysis

Open Document