The Chicago world’s fair in 1893 was bustling with people from all walks of life. There were farmers from Nebraska, belly dancers from Algeria, and there were people from New York who came to see if the fair was what they thought it would have been if it had been held in their state. Through the eye of the spectators the fair was a big success and there had been few problems that occurred prior to the fair opening. However, Erik Larson’s book, Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America, brings attention to the problems that occurred prior to the opening as well as ones that happened while the fair was open. With all the problems that the contractors faced while building the fair, it was a miracle that the fair opened and was successful. The Chicago world’s fair’s official name was the World’s Columbian Exposition, and its original purpose was to commemorate the four hundredth anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s discovery of America, however Daniel Hudson Burnham, the foremost creator, wanted it to be something enchanting, a “white city .” While Burnham wanted the fair to be a “white city” the whole fair had to be greater in all aspects than the fair in Paris in 1889, because if the fair failed the honor of the United States would be stained, and the city of Chicago would be disgraced . Burnham wanted only the best American architects of the time and their plans for the buildings were fashioned after neoclassical ideas, they had a uniform height for the cornice, in hopes of creating harmony amongst the prominent buildings . However, a problem arose when building these neoclassical structures. Neoclassical works are generally made out of stone, which takes time to carve out, the draftsm... ... middle of paper ... ...re problems with the buildings such as fire, and more storms. However, those events didn’t stop the people from coming and seeing what the fair had to offer. It took several big events to get mass crowds of people, such as a ball at the midway and fireworks on the Fourth of July. In one day the fair had 751,026 people in attendance, from people who paid at the gate and others who had passes . The problems that occurred during the building of the fair did not hurt attendance, and the fair was a success, changing America along the way. Works Cited Erik Larson, Devil in the White City, Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America, 4. Ibid, 33. Ibid, 77. Ibid, 106-107. Ibid, 120. Ibid, 131. Ibid, 133. Ibid, 142. Ibid, 153. Ibid, 196-197. Ibid, 177. Ibid, 178. Ibid, 185. Ibid, 193. Ibid, 218. Ibid, 258. Ibid, 319.
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...
Write an essay discussing the historical insights presented in Erik Larson’s Devil in the White City, being sure to answer the following questions: In what ways does the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 represent the contrasts and conflicts of the Gilded Age? What is the Fair’s lasting imprint on American society & culture, & what new trends does it signal for the twentieth century?
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...
Masur chose to end his book with Trollope’s experiences in America to sybolize how there is hope for a brighter future for Americans. Perhaps, the dark storm represents this gloomy era in American history, and the eclipse is symbolizing a new brighter chapter. 1831 contained the start of a slave rebellion, technological advances, a new generation of leaders, religious turmoil, prostitution, and the murdering of indians in America. 1831 left Americans with a lot of unfinished business in many issues; slavery, indian relations, expansion,working class evils, polotics. There was an inevitable feeling that major reform was needed to restore the democratic and moral values that were lost. Yet through all these intolerable acts, there was still hope for a bright future.
Larson begins his novel “The Devil in the White City” by setting the stage, mentioning the events and people who made the fair so great. But simultaneously Larson hints at the evil lurking in the shadows. Although the reader is not fully aware of the dual nature of the human condition till Holmes’s big unveil. Larson describes Holmes as “a murderer that had moved among the beautiful things Burnham had created” (Larson 6). Chicagoans were startled by how such gruesome acts could go unnoticed for so long. The juxtaposition of...
Brumwell, Stephen. White Devil: A True Story of War, Savagery, and Vengeance in Colonial America. Da Capo Press Inc. March, 2005.
The book, The Devil in the White City, takes place during the late nineteenth century. During that time, the total picture of the late nineteenth - century America that emerges from The Devil in the White City is very different than now.
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.
The Chicago fire was a bad time and a good time in Chicago’s past. It destroyed a whole city, but in a way it rebuilt it as well. It led to many good things, it showed that even though you may not like the people you live by or with, when they need help, you should help them no matter what. It also led to industrialization, which helped Chicago become the metropolis it is today. Even though nobody knows who started the Great Chicago fire, whether it was old peg leg Sullivan, two random old men fighting in the barn, a comet falling from the night sky, or Mrs. O’Leary starting it herself for attention, it is still one of the worst, if not the worst disasters in Chicago’s great history. Chicagoans will always remember October 8, 1871, because it is a day that changed Chicago forever.
Hi folks, thanks for the response to my previous blog. However, my slothful ways have caught up to me and I need to complete this blog that’s become a few weeks overdue for the Minnesota State Fair. Although, I enjoyed my time at the Minnesota State Fair, although being worn down and tired of hordes of people, I decided not to travel to the Renaissance Fair the following day. However, The Minnesota State Fair was delightful and was able to partake in the music, the culture, and the delicious food. Although my dental regimen was not on par for the toothache that started after eating those sweet delectable cookies. I will explain later in the blog, certainly read further on a few tips for the 2016 Minnesota State Fair.
When the first major international exhibition of arts and industries was held in London in 1851, the London Crystal Palace epitomized the achievements of the entire world at a time when progress was racing forward at a speed never before known to mankind. The Great Exhibition marked the beginning of a tradition of world's fairs, which would be held in major cities all across the globe. Following the success of the London fair, it was inevitable that other nations would soon try their hand at organizing their own exhibitions. In fact, the next international fair was held only two years later, in 1853, in New York City. This fair would have its own Crystal Palace to symbolize not only the achievements of the world, but also the nationalistic pride of a relatively young nation and all that she stood for. Walt Whitman, the great American poet, wrote in "The Song of the Exposition":
For three days Chicago was filled with chaos and destruction as a wicked flame tore through the city. As it ripped through the city it left people injured and houses demolished leaving people homeless and even death. There was nothing they could do to stop it, people and firemen quaked with terror as they lied in its wake attempting to stop it. To get out of the fires burning wrath, people traveled across town to get to Lincoln Park, and they even jumped into the rivers and lakes to avoid its grasp. The Chicago Fire was the worst thing that had ever happened in Chicago's history because all of the devastation in its wake.
The book “The Devil in the Massachusetts” by Marion Lena Starkey is based on witchcraft that took place in the 19th century in Massachusetts. It basically centers on Salem witch trials that take its dialog from genuine trial records; however, applies cutting edge psychiatric learning to the witchcraft mania. The writer additionally includes dramatization perspective into the book which strikingly reproduces the climate of compassion and dread that cultivated the abhorrent and enduring of this human catastrophe. The book “Devil in the Grove” by Gilbert King is based on the most vital American attorney of the twentieth century, Thurgood Marshall was nearly bringing the point of interest suit Brown v. Leading body of Education before the U.S. Preeminent Court when he got to be involved in a touchy and dangerous case that debilitated to change the course of the social equality development and expense him his life.
In my essay I will discuss the differences between national cinema and Hollywood cinema by using Rio de Janeiro¡¯s famous film City of God. There will be three parts in my following main body, the first part is a simple review of the film City of God, I will try to use the review to show the film structure and some different new points from this, show the how did the ¡®Shocking, frightening, thrilling and funny¡¯ (Nev Pierce) work in the film. The second part is my discussion parts; I will refer some typical Hollywood big name films such as Gangs in New York, Shawshank¡¯s Redemption, and Good Fellas to discuss the main differences between City of God and other national films. The third part is my summary, I will use my knowledge to analyse why there have big different between both kind of films and their advantages.