Eric Larson's book, The Devil In The White City, takes place in Chicago during the Gilded age. Big business was on the rise, America was experiencing vast economic expansion, however, poverty still affected millions of Americans. Larson communicates the essential features of the Gilded age through his novel by showing the struggle that the architects and investors faced to make the world fair a success in the struggling economy, while also using the story of H.H Holmes as an analogy to depict the false perception of what America was during the Gilded age.
The 1893 Chicago world's fair was a risky venture even by today's standards. Investing in something that is not necessary for day to day survival during the time leading up to the panic of …show more content…
From an external perspective, it would appear that a world's fair during these times would have been an instant success. During the gilded age big business was on the rise and bringing in more profit into the U.S. than ever before. Individuals such as John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie were bringing in billions to the U.S. from oil and steel productions.The American economy appeared to be on the rise from the outside. However this was not the case. The massive amounts of income to the U.S was too focused within a few certain individuals. This lack of dispersed wealth to a large majority of individuals is why the 1893 World’s fair almost failed. The everyday citizens that the investors sought to bring into the fair did not have the extra cash to go around. The Panic of 1893 caused the closing of 500 banks, and the failure of thousands upon thousands of small businesses and farms. Unemployment skyrocketed in places, rates even reached as high as 43%. The everyday American was suffering. This is reflected in the book as investors and those running the fair took substantial risk and pushed heavily at an attempt to turn a profit. The nearly collapsed economy was taking a huge toll on the …show more content…
Holmes story can be seen as an analogy to what the Gilded age was. To onlookers, Holmes appeared to be quite the charming man. Very charismatic and able to get his way with anyone. Women in particular were very fond of Holmes apparent person. However on the inside and after further inspection, one could see the true person that lied under the front that Holmes portrayed. There are several instances when Holmes used his charm to trick people to only take advantage of them, such as when he volunteers to take over Mrs. Holtons pharmacy only to use it for his own personal needs, or when he employs several workers during a struggling economy, only to avoid paying them. Holmes uses his apparent charm to comfort Julia, the ex wife of an individual running the jewelry store in Holmes building. They are then set to get married when he murders her and sells her skeleton for profit. Holmes is the perfect analogy for what the Gilded age was, from the outside all seemed well and grand. The American oil and steel industry were turning huge profits in America and the industry was expanding greatly, however when the deception was uncovered, it is seen that everyday Americans were suffering and being taken advantage of. The same is to be said for Holmes, seeming like quite the charming honest individual, however is truly taking advantage of everyone's trust and an underlying murder and
The 1893 Chicago world's fair was a risky venture even by today's standards. Investing in something that is not necessary for day to day survival during the time leading up to the panic of …show more content…
From an external perspective, it would appear that a world's fair during these times would have been an instant success. During the gilded age big business was on the rise and bringing in more profit into the U.S. than ever before. Individuals such as John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie were bringing in billions to the U.S. from oil and steel productions.The American economy appeared to be on the rise from the outside. However this was not the case. The massive amounts of income to the U.S was too focused within a few certain individuals. This lack of dispersed wealth to a large majority of individuals is why the 1893 World’s fair almost failed. The everyday citizens that the investors sought to bring into the fair did not have the extra cash to go around. The Panic of 1893 caused the closing of 500 banks, and the failure of thousands upon thousands of small businesses and farms. Unemployment skyrocketed in places, rates even reached as high as 43%. The everyday American was suffering. This is reflected in the book as investors and those running the fair took substantial risk and pushed heavily at an attempt to turn a profit. The nearly collapsed economy was taking a huge toll on the …show more content…
Holmes story can be seen as an analogy to what the Gilded age was. To onlookers, Holmes appeared to be quite the charming man. Very charismatic and able to get his way with anyone. Women in particular were very fond of Holmes apparent person. However on the inside and after further inspection, one could see the true person that lied under the front that Holmes portrayed. There are several instances when Holmes used his charm to trick people to only take advantage of them, such as when he volunteers to take over Mrs. Holtons pharmacy only to use it for his own personal needs, or when he employs several workers during a struggling economy, only to avoid paying them. Holmes uses his apparent charm to comfort Julia, the ex wife of an individual running the jewelry store in Holmes building. They are then set to get married when he murders her and sells her skeleton for profit. Holmes is the perfect analogy for what the Gilded age was, from the outside all seemed well and grand. The American oil and steel industry were turning huge profits in America and the industry was expanding greatly, however when the deception was uncovered, it is seen that everyday Americans were suffering and being taken advantage of. The same is to be said for Holmes, seeming like quite the charming honest individual, however is truly taking advantage of everyone's trust and an underlying murder and