Extended Reflection Journal (BLOG)

Extended Reflection Journal (BLOG) : 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?

As Larson begins his factual tale of two men, he uses this intro to reveal that this novel will contain the good of men, Burnham, and the evil’s imminent in Chicago, Holmes. The gore, smoke and loam is used to describe and set the scene of murderous stock yards, dirty street corners, and smells that only the late 1800’s of Chicago can behold. This short “note” helps readers to determine the main idea of conflict present within the novels context. Similarly, both men, Burnham and Holmes, are blue eyed and passionate. Passion that is beheld to both men in very different ways; murder and architecture. The two main characters are creepily similar in ways of craft. They both abuse the use of precision, completeness, and both strive to obtain perfect perfection. They both achieve greatness and become well-known by pursuing their passion, craft, and by living their lives in the ways they wanted too. Both men use their crafts, though in two different ways, to achieve exactly what each man is looking for. Similarly using passion and will power.

Holmes believes in murder as perfection. He slowly creates “Holmes” as a work of art. A trustworthy, honest man who no one can betray or look at as a “murderer”. He works with what the world offers and sees every person, and idea as opportune moment. Holmes is a man of completeness and uses every moment to perfect his life pursuing evil.

Burnham believes in perfection through building. Always striving for the bigger, better, taller buildings Burnham shapes his world in which not to fail. He wants to gain fame and fortune through his works of art; skyscrapers. Every chance Burnham gets he is working, thinking, visualizing the fair and striving for good.

Although two completely different ways of shaping a life, and pursuing a craft both men put passion into their works. Similar in inner strength to do what each man does and do it to perfection.
Larson states that both men are “unusually adept at their chosen skills”. Burnham is achieving the impossible while Holmes is manufacturing sorrow. Two men; so completely dissimilar but so similar all at once. They are written in a sense to embody America during this time period, and are connected without meeting. Holmes and Burnham are related through their passions and work to perfect; tied together by a single event in American history.

“Good and Evil, daylight and darkness, the White City and the Black”. This is a direct contrast of the books main characters. Holmes embodies the Black City and the evil that exists within it. This contrast is used within the “note” to directly state that though factual and nonfiction, both men embody different views of history though linked to a singular inspiring event. He uses a note to prepare the reader's the contrasting main men, and underlying similarities the opposites share. These men link together in the ways they use passion to achieve even though their individual crafts are for good and evil.