The biggest reforms Churchill brought involved the education of naval officers, the progressive switch from coal to oil as the main source of fuel for ships, the “bigger is better” mentality when it came to ships and gunnery, and more accurate gunnery by means of adapting to technological advancement. Churchill was shocked that officers did not have to study or pass an exam on naval warfare and that no British officer had contributed anything to naval literature. Churchill was also outraged and…
Inciting Event In 1893 the whole of United States celebrates the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the America's and the World's Columbian Exposition opens to waiting public. In the nearby Chicago community of Englewood resides a businessman, a doctor, and the United States first documented serial killer, Dr. H.H. Holmes. First Plot Point As the trains which shall overwhelm Chicago with tourist and people seeking new opportunities so is it occupied by predators…
The Devil in the White City is written by Erik Larson, an author that takes historical events but instead of just explaining the events, he leaves his readers at the edge of their seats, wanting more, and explains gaps that are left in history regarding the events of this book. This book is set during the World's Columbian Exposition or better known as the World’s Fair of 1893. The book is based on two men that are on the opposite side of the spectrum in society: Daniel Burnham, the architect of…
. After his purchase of the vacant property across from the drug store he began the construction of his infamous murder castle. Designed by himself only Holmes knew the exact layout and design of the building. During its construction Holmes was constantly firing and hiring new workers, he did this so that no one knew the design and layout of the building, and to also save money because he claimed the works incompetent and unable to do a proper job. The building was built containing three floors…
I chose to read about H.H. Holmes in The Devil In The White City: Murder, Magic, And Madness At The Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson because I wanted to learn about something new rather than the alternative athlete that I’ve done biographies on in the past. The novel shows the stories of two different people during the time of the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, one…
Lucy is gorgeous and everyone is aware of this, even Mina can’t stop talking about it. She is blonde, innocent, and very vulnerable, which inspires everyone to protect her. Lucy is proposed to by Quincey Morris, Jack Seward, and Arthur Holmwood. She declines Quincey and Jack, but accepts Arthur’s proposal. Lucy noted that she would not be upset if she married all three men. This goes against the social conventions of the society in the Victorian culture. Throughout the…
Johnathon’s fiancé, and her friend, Lucy Westenra’s, points of view through their letters. It is mostly just gossip, but there are several references to Johnathon. Through there gossip they introduce most of the main characters. Next, it shifts to Dr. John Seward, or Jack’s diary with a description of Renfield who is a patient at Jack’s asylum. After this, it alternates points…
The attitude of the Victorian age and its gender roles is ingrained into Bram Stoker's Dracula. In the novel, it is transparent that men hold the authoritative position while women are expected to comply with their demands. Stroker often writes about both genders behaving either more feminine or masculine and the repercussions that follow. Today there's a lot of stress on both genders to look and act a certain way; but when Bram Stoker wrote Dracula there was much more stress on people to fit…
indication revolving the male character’s regard of Lucy showcases the fear shared by members of Victorian society that we’ve discussed earlier. There are many instances in Stoker’s novel where the male characters call her these endearments, like when John Seward agrees to watch over Lucy as she sleeps, which provides a great deal of comfort for her: “But, my dear girl, you may sleep…
Diary entries act as a window to the true thoughts dwelling in the mind of a person with the lack of fear of offending another and due to the exceptional way writing on paper allows the words to flow freely and allow lengthy, humanistic thinking. Dracula by Bram Stoker consists of these unadulterated thoughts along with factual reporting from Newspaper clippings. Along with this, letters between characters offer a connection and interaction that generally would not translate well with only diary…