The World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 was America's chance to eclipse the 1889 Exposition Universelle held in Paris that had wounded the pride of our nation. With the entire world watching, endless opportunities were available to engage the impossible. One man used the opportunity the World's Fair presented to build a city that could make America proud. Another used it's eminence to help him become one of the most feared serial-killers of the time. These two men, "their fates were linked by a single, magical event" (xi). They represent Chicago as a black and white city; a clash between good and evil.
The Exposition held in Paris a few years prior unveiled the Eiffel Tower, possibly the most remarkable landmark of the time. In order to prove itself, America had to create a fair that would at least equal this engineering marvel. The first of the two men was Daniel Burnham, a gifted architect and the Fair's chief builder and organizer. He represents the American idealism that you can achieve the impossible, as was done at the Fair. The "White City" as the exposition became known as ...
In the book, “The Devil in the White City,” Erik Larson tells the story of two formidable men and their activities during Chicago’s World Fair of 1893. Daniel Burnham is an architect and the fair’s brilliant director. The book takes the reader through the tremendous obstacles and tragedies that Burnham faces in an attempt to create a fair that will give America its fame. However, H.H Holmes is a young doctor, who uses the attraction of the great fair and his charms to lure dozens of young women to their inevitable and tragic deaths. Not only did Chicago’s World Fair of 1893 showcase Daniel Burnham’s success as an able director and H.H. Holmes cunning nature, it changed America as a whole, introduced some lasting inventions, and influenced many historical figures of both that time and our current time period.
From first impression, Burnham found that Chicago had a murky factorial image lined with a “fantastic stink that lingered in the vicinity of Union Stock yards” (41). The dreadful surface that Chicago was maintaining allowed Burnham to be determined to collaborate and recreate its image. His efforts would also make a reputational comeback for America’s poor representation in the Exposition Universelle (15). One major feature that transformed public opinion of the state was to illuminate the entire fair with clean white buildings that outlined the goodness of the area (252). Eye-catching whiteness contradicted the presumed dirtiness of the town. Making a contradiction from what was assumed of the city would allow the fair to generate a much bigger transformation. The lights also gave the fair a unique, whimsical edge. “The lamps that laced every building and walkway produced the most elaborate demonstration of electric illumination ever attempted”, incorporating new technology in a grand-scale way merely to keep the theme of brightness ongoing throughout each day and night (254). Most importantly, it displayed the town’s potential to become a thriving and respected city. The theme of whiteness interlaced with the neoclassical outline in The World Fair’s de...
Ken Hamblin is the author of “The Black Avenger.” He has worked in various media fields and continues to work as a talk radio host and has a talk show of his own. He also refers to himself as a thinking black man (384-385). Hamblin seems to believe that hard work is the only way to be successful. Hamblin writes an effective work that portrays ethos by using his racial credibility, pathos to invoke emotions, and logos by cause and effect.
One half of the story was of a man named Daniel Burnham, who was a famous architect of his time. It’s in this half of the story that can you see the good part of the city. Pride can be seen mainly throughout his story. His life in these pages was based on the construction of the World Columbian Exposition which was a fair held in Chicago in 1893. This magnificent fair was in honor of one of America’s most well known discoverers, Christopher C. Columbus. This was the 400th anniversary of his discovery of the new world. Through Burnham’s pride and his determination, he was able to complete the fair in almost a year. However, it was not truly ready for opening day due to a few construction issues, such as the world’s f...
The conflict/rising action in “The Jacket” is he didnt like the jacket. It was an ugly green color and had mustard colored stripes on the sleeves. He just wanted to wear his older jacket and let his brother have the ugly new one. His mom kept begging him to take the jacket and wear it to school and always have it on. However, he did not agree with her opinion at all.
Erik Larson’s book Devil in the White City is full of magic and madness that has shaped the society of the late 19th century that is specific to in Chicago. The issues that have been handled through this time frame that are addressed in this book is that how Chicago was known to be the black city at first, and how the city hoped that hosting the World’s fair would increase their reputation. Secondly, the magic of a man named Daniel Burnham that did put the plans of the world fair in Chicago into life and the obstacles that he had overcame. Next, once the world fair was complete, it has made Chicago “The White city,” by its dazzling designs and attractions that made it memorable. Then, the madness of H.H. Holmes and how his evil deeds has seemed to undermine the world fair and the things that are going on within it with his murders and treachery that does grip Chicago once his evil deeds have been found out. Finally, the events that happened in the world fair that relate to the issues that occur in the late ninetieth century within the United States. The city of Chicago was in a desolate condition before it hosted the World Fair.
Snyder, Iris. (February 2000) "The Centennial Exposition, Philadelphia, 1876" University of Delaware, Special Collections Department http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/exhibits/fairs/cent.htm(25 February, 2001).
After reading The Book of the Unknown Americans, I realized how difficult immigrating to the United States can be. I am an immigrant also, so just reading the story makes me relate to many problems immigrants experience relocating to a different country. Immigrants often face many issues and difficulties, but for some it is all worth it, but for others there comes a point in time where they have to go back to their hometown. Alma and Arturo Rivera came to the United States to better their life, but also so that Maribel could attend a special education school. While Arturo had a job things had gone well for the family, but once Arturo lost the job and passed away the two of them had to go back because they felt that that was the best option for them. Reading this book made me realize how strong an individual has to be to leave their own country and relocate somewhere else not knowing if this will better your life or cause one to suffer.
Tradition versus modernity is a dispute that constantly battles its way to the front lines of many people’s lives. In its most basic form, this argument is simply a question of whether change should intrude on traditionalism. Change frightens many, for it appears to infringe on comfort. However, change is not always negative, and not all matters in life change. One front in which the argument of tradition versus modernity is reflected is the way family is perceived. Just as time affects society’s idea of family, it affects people’s understandings of the world. E.B. White, author of Charlotte’s Web, wrote an essay called “Once More to the Lake” that was published in Harper’s Magazine in 1941 that details White’s trip with his son to a lake
Holmes’ Own Story is a fascinating look into the mind of one of America's first serial killers. Herman Webster Mudgett, aka H. H. Holmes, was a horrific serial killer made famous in the popular Erik Larson book, The Devil in the White City. H. H. Holmes built a three story Murder Castle in Chicago in the 19th century with death on his mind. Dr. Holmes lured unsuspecting victims into secret rooms, vaults and gas chambers and made use of a dissection table in his basement. Holmes preyed on travelers that came to the Chicago World's Fair (World’s Columbian Exposition) in 1893. He advertised rooms for rent and offered employment opportunities in his Murder Castle, often called Holmes Castle and World’s Fair Hotel.
During the Jim Crow era in the early twentieth century in the south, one major point was missing; equality. During this time the south was full of prejudice, discrimination, and racial hatred toward black people. Black people would be punished for only looking at a white person. Some of these punishments included being killed, beat, lynched, and arrested. All of these things revolved around the time period while Richard Wright was growing up. In Wrights autobiography Black Boy we learn that although he was born in such a rough time period, he is able to make his way to success. Wright was an independent and courageous boy. All throughout Black Boy we see the struggles he goes through and how tough life was for him as a child. Many of the tragic experiences Wright faces makes him the man he is at the end of the book. The main theme in this book is racism. Ever since Wright was a child he was only aware of two races, black and white. Not until a later age did he understand the difference of black and white people; this got him into a heap of trouble. A line in the book that stands out about his lack of knowledge of different races is "My grandmother who was as "white" as any "white" person, had never looked "white" to me." (Wright 31). This quote from the book shows that he sees people in his life to be white and that he isn’t aware of the difference of whites and blacks. It isn’t until later in the book that Wright is encountered with white folks. Black Boy shows a lot of racism. Wright as a young black boy tries to find his place in society throughout this book. There are several striking parallels throughout the book that can be vi...
Findling, John E., editor, Historical Dictionary of World's Fairs and Expositions, 1851-1988. New York: Greenwood Press, 1990. p. 10-11
First of all, Elias Disney worked as a carpenter for the fair and told stories to his son Walt, the creator of the magical Disney World (Larson 153). Chicago World’s Fair and the parks at Disney World have intentional similarities. For example, both the fair and Magic Kingdom included beautiful, connected waterways throughout the area. Also, Epcot’s World Showcase, featuring “authentic displays of world art and culture” is similar to the fair’s Midway Plaisance and its villages (Epcot Guidemap). The culture of America changed dramatically by Walt’s parks and characters because even today, kids dream of visiting Disney World. Second, L. Frank Baum, the author of The Wizard of Oz, visited the fair where “its grandeur informed [his] creation of Oz” (Larson 373). The magic and virtuosity of the fair clearly impacted the novel which includes surreal events, marvelous adventures, and bizarre places (“Wonderful Wizard of Oz”). The writing of Baum caused Americans to fall in love with fantasy and adventure in literature. Therefore, the Chicago World’s Fair molded both Walt Disney and Baum whose work changed American
The Columbian Exposition or known by its famous moniker, the Chicago World's Fair, took place in 1893. This fair commemorated the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ discovery of America. Under its architect, Daniel Burnham, it came to be known as the “White City”. It lasted six months and during that time frame, it was recorded that 27.5 million visits occurred. This was a large number compared to the current population of the United States at that time, which was 65 million. The fair was exotic, it included populations of various locations, imported various goods and a surfeit of income was generated.
Deceitful, wicked, and cruel are words that define the “devil.” The devil’s depiction is always that of a tempter, which symbolizes sin and all evil things that are conjured from this world. A total lack of morals is the interpretation that being evil entitles. In The Devil In The White City, H. H. Holmes through the various depictions of deceit, enticement and pre mediated plans he is able to carry out many of his treacherous acts.