"Evils Imminent" 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" The authors purpose of including the note “Evils Imminent” directly at the beginning of the novel is to juxtapose the two main characters and establish that the story is non fiction and supported with strong facts and quotes. He also establishes that the novel takes place during the end of the nineteenth century, which is important because it was an industrial and dark time for struggling America. Larson directly compares and contrasts Burnham, an architect, and H.H Holmes, a serial killer. His compare and contrast in itself conveys the idea of good versus evil in the novel. Burnham is an architect faced with an immense challenge, to build the largest fair the world has never seen before. The challenges he faces could also represent evil such as union workers trying to prevent the exposition in protest to not hiring them, or the multiple building structure conflicts and domestic problems with architects. Burnham’s pursuit to build an almost impossible fair with a harsh deadline could symbolize good and America’s perspective to seek change.

         

            On the other hand, Holmes is established to be a serial killer. However, Larson notes that he was an archetype of the urban serial killer. Like Burnham, who left a strong impression on American architecture with his structures and the fair, Holmes left a strong impression on the typical murderer through his methods and wit. Larson further relates the two men by stating that Holmes did most of his killings at the Chicago Fair. Burnham intended the fair to be a symbol of American pride, where people in a dark time can go to have fun and relax. However the fair attracted such evil, especially in Holmes, because crimes were easy to commit there.

            Burnham and Holmes are similar in the way that they are very good at what they do although I wouldn’t consider Holmes to have a profession that is appropriate in society. Also, they have a very strong passion for their profession. They are different in a sense that Burnham pursuits his goal of building American structures for the good of mankind and the benefit of others. Holmes murders people for his self satisfaction and pleasure that he developed during his childhood years. Holmes is considered to be a charming, handsome guy who can talk his way out of anything. At first glance he is an ordinary man that is popular with the ladies and successful with his false business. He accumulates many debts by purchasing items through credit for his business and hiring workers then firing them. It is strange how police or other people could not catch his crimes any sooner. Maybe his actions represent how society tends to not get involved in the nasty actions of daily life. However, Burnham represents the portion of society that wants change and bigger and better things. The fair brings hope to a society that deals with evil forces everyday such as disease, murder, etc. Although critics claimed that his deadline was impossible, he still pursued to finish the exposition despite many challenges.