Comparing The Devil In The White City And It's A Question '

The Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson, and “It’s a Question…” by Tom Stafford both answered the universal question of whether humans are born good or bad. The Devil in the White City is about a killer’s mentality and mindset being bought to justice. “It’s a Question…” is about researchers who ultimately determine whether humans “have a basically good nature that is corrupted by society, or a basically bad nature that is kept in check by society. ( IAW, 3-4)” H.H. Holmes in The Devil in the White City was a psychotic serial killer who was undeniably twisted and evil to the core. He was ruthless and cared for no one but himself. Though Tom Stafford, in “It’s a Question…”, may argue that Holmes in The Devil in the White City” was originally born good and turned evil by society’s corruption, it is clear that his naturally bad nature came from birth. …show more content…
In the book, Holmes “did not mind handling bodies”, he thought “they were ‘material’, no more different from firewood, although somewhat difficult to dispose” (44). This shows how Holmes sees humans as no more than mere objects. He as no appreciation for human life and to him, humans serve no real purpose other than to satisfy himself. This shows how truly twisted he'd come to be. Holmes was ultimately “testing his power to bend the lives of people. (14)” This itself shows how highly he thinks of himself. He acts as if he is God, deciding who lives and who dies. While in “It’s a Question”, “basic instinct [is’ to prefer friendly intentions over malicious ones” (56-57), Holmes displays none of this, thus proving that he truly feels nothing and has no real