Extended Reflection Journal: In describing the collapse of the roof of Manufacturers and Liberal Arts Building, Larson writes "In a great blur of snow and silvery glass the building's roof—that marvel of late nineteenth-century hubris, enclosing the greatest volume of unobstructed space in history—collapsed to the floor below" [p. 196–97]. Was the entire Fair, in its extravagant size and cost, an exhibition of arrogance? Do such creative acts automatically engender a darker, destructive parallel?
Americais filled withe the most prideful people on earth, we boast freedom, technology and the American dream, America has been trying to outshine and outdo everyone else, throughout history, but along with numerous other countries as well. From The Imperial Age, to modern times, Americans always want something bigger and better and just plain and simply: more than anyone else. Nowadays, American's are always trying to one up their neighbors with a nicer lawn or a bigger car, or maybe trying to get a better grade than the student next to them, or trying to earn the most money. It's the American way of life, and it always has been. America is an arrogant country, always showing off what they've got, and not being afraid to show it. The World's Fair was just another example of arrogance and boasting the newest, best, most advanced technology, style, culture, trends and so on and so forth. The Fair was built on jealousy and materialism, showcasing America's strength. The World's fair introduced a new found obsession with becoming a world superpower in America in the 19th century. Arrogance is an overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors; directly relating to the fair. The fair was only installed and designed in order to project America as a wondrous country better than that of the former Paris exposition. It was supposed to be designed bigger and better than anything in existence no matter of cost or physical or earthly limitations. The fair was completely and one hundred percent a display of American arrogance during the 19th century. It was used throughout its running as an act to draw in and hypnotize tourists to believe and register America as a world power; the best, and only, of its kind. In order to reach this level of greatness no cost limit was implicated, displaying the arrogance and pride America soaked in and developed during the worlds fair construction and exposition. America wanted to reach the title of number one, outdoing the competition Paris displayed. This simple act of want, greed, and need for material popularity gained America arrogance not easily forgotten. Arrogance must be displayed in order to gain the superiority America strove for when wanting to build and construct a beautiful, amazing world exposition sure to draw in, capture, and shock tourists and business men from all over ready and willing to watch America sky rocket to stardom. The project was built purely for boasting and bragging rights, and to leave other nations behind in the metaphorical dust. The fair's amount of work and power required to function, of course will engender a darker, destructive parallel. Anything that takes this much work, with such a good outcome of course has to have a downside, or a downfall. THe whole novel contrasts the White City and the Black City, leaving a parallel of bad to go with the massive amounts off good that came out of the Fair. All good things have a bad side, including the magnificent World's Fair of the late 1800's; the work Burnham and the other architects put into it was incredible, while others like Holmes, were on cruel murdering sprees throughout the city, leaving a bad taste. The Fair was a fantastic event, all the while creating a bad effect.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Blog 4: Extended reflection on Devil in the White City
In the note "Evils Imminent," Erik Larson writes "Beneath the gore and smoke and loam, this book is about the evanescence of life, and why some men choose to fill their brief allotment of time engaging the impossible, others in the manufacture of sorrow" [xi]. What does the book reveal about "the ineluctable conflict between good and evil"? What is the essential difference between men like Daniel Burnham and Henry H. Holmes? Are they alike in any way?
The title of the novel itself, "The Devil in the White City," already eludes a contrast, striking evil in visible good. Quite obviously in the novel, Burnham represents the greater good and some what innocence, as holmes reflects evils and impurity. Also Chicago reeks danger and evil whilst the fair and 'white city' are set up for triumph and good, however these two men and cities intertwine and have a lot more in common then it may seem.
As we read Burnham gives his heart and soul to make this fair great, for the reputation of America and even greater the reputation of Chicago. Holmes turns this good thing into something evil, by using it to lure people he will murder into his hotel. The book's two most powerful figures, the great architect Daniel Burnham and the psychopathic killer, Henry H. Holmes, in many ways embody the opposing forces of the age. Burnham was responsible for building the White City, overcoming a series of crushing professional obstacles and personal tragedies to make the Fair the magical, awe-inspiring event that it was. He brought together some of the greatest architects of the day and convinced them of the importance of the Fair, and somehow got them to work together to achieve what many considered to be an impossible project in an astonishingly brief amount of time. Simultaneously, in the shadow of the White City, Henry H. Holmes set up his own World's Fair Hotel to take advantage of naive young single women arriving in Chicago from surrounding small towns. Using his mesmerizing charm and an uncanny ability to fend off creditors and police, Holmes bent his victims to his will and committed a series of murders as cold-blooded as any in American history.
But The Devil in the White City is about more than just two men. It is about America on the threshold of the twentieth century— when all could all gaze in wonder at the magnificence of the White City.
So even burnham as good and holmes is evil they both have similar life styles and goals, both strive and work hard as well as using thier looks and charm to accomplish things, and both with thier striking blue eyes. Nevertheless, good and evil no matter how similar are forever seperated by ill intentions on trhe evil part, Burnham would never manipulate or find pleasure in such evils in the way that holmes does, and I do not think holmes could be satisfied with leading a life in the same way burnham did.
The title of the novel itself, "The Devil in the White City," already eludes a contrast, striking evil in visible good. Quite obviously in the novel, Burnham represents the greater good and some what innocence, as holmes reflects evils and impurity. Also Chicago reeks danger and evil whilst the fair and 'white city' are set up for triumph and good, however these two men and cities intertwine and have a lot more in common then it may seem.
As we read Burnham gives his heart and soul to make this fair great, for the reputation of America and even greater the reputation of Chicago. Holmes turns this good thing into something evil, by using it to lure people he will murder into his hotel. The book's two most powerful figures, the great architect Daniel Burnham and the psychopathic killer, Henry H. Holmes, in many ways embody the opposing forces of the age. Burnham was responsible for building the White City, overcoming a series of crushing professional obstacles and personal tragedies to make the Fair the magical, awe-inspiring event that it was. He brought together some of the greatest architects of the day and convinced them of the importance of the Fair, and somehow got them to work together to achieve what many considered to be an impossible project in an astonishingly brief amount of time. Simultaneously, in the shadow of the White City, Henry H. Holmes set up his own World's Fair Hotel to take advantage of naive young single women arriving in Chicago from surrounding small towns. Using his mesmerizing charm and an uncanny ability to fend off creditors and police, Holmes bent his victims to his will and committed a series of murders as cold-blooded as any in American history.
But The Devil in the White City is about more than just two men. It is about America on the threshold of the twentieth century— when all could all gaze in wonder at the magnificence of the White City.
So even burnham as good and holmes is evil they both have similar life styles and goals, both strive and work hard as well as using thier looks and charm to accomplish things, and both with thier striking blue eyes. Nevertheless, good and evil no matter how similar are forever seperated by ill intentions on trhe evil part, Burnham would never manipulate or find pleasure in such evils in the way that holmes does, and I do not think holmes could be satisfied with leading a life in the same way burnham did.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)