Blog #3-Reactions to Devil in the White City (1-152)

Eric Larsen’s masterful novel, Devil in the White City, is an amazingly enthralling double story. Much more interesting than our previous novel, The Pit, Larsen’s story has a detailed plot that effectively alternates between Burnham’s construction of the Columbian World Exposition, and HH Holmes surreptitious and, so far, incomprehensible movement through the Chicago environment. What makes the novel especially enjoyable is the evidence of research into the actual events, creating a very real environment through which the characters navigate; developing, early on, a visual roadmap of the two distinct stories, but also how the main characters’ paths will eventually intersect. An interesting observation in the novel is the interpretation of Chicago itself as an entity of higher cognition, or mechanical order; that is, more than an agglomeration of a biotic brick, mortar and steel. The city itself is a place where “vanishment seemed a pastime” and nothing was wasted (Larson 102-103). This reinforces the mystique of Chicago and makes it even more alluring not only to continue reading, but also encourage the flood of young women and ambitious young men into its clutches. Like its interpretation in The Pit, there is a clear assertion that Chicago is an ordered being like any human.

Interestingly, there is no attempt in either novel to hide the inherent danger of venturing into the “White City”; which, to me, is only an accurate description to the extent of the illumination by electric lamps. The “Devil” in the White city belies the fact that the city is much more dark and sinister and, in reality, a very appropriate home for such a character as HH Holmes and his murderous tendencies. This is supported by the ease with which Holmes is able to systematically eliminate all obstacles incarnate, and explain their disappearances as simple, permanent, relocations. Initially, I envisioned a novel detailing the Chicago Columbian Exposition as a monotonous history lesson. I have since reformed my perspective and now realize the significance of the exposition and the murderous events, but also the astounding interconnectedness of the plot to many events across the world during an era with which I am especially interested.

Blog #2-Reaction to The Pit (5-9)

Between chapter five and nine of The Pit, many interesting character developments occur. This is especially the case in Laura Jadwin. Prior to their marriage, Laura appeared to be a young, giddy girl, out for a good time with any man willing to entreat her. It is only after her marriage that Laura’s interpretation of love becomes obvious. I am quite surprised at her definitions of love, which are both outlandish and almost contradictory. On one occasion, Laura defines love as only one way affections, of a material and servile nature, of the husband towards the wife. She continues on to say that the wife can, in turn, be very cold towards her husband (149). To me, it seems completely ridiculous to call this love, and what’s more, that this interpretation isn’t immediately denounced by Page when she explains it. Indeed love is not the easiest thing to define, but common sense would dictate that this doesn’t even come close.

In addition, this and other explanations of love have a clear material aspect. In other words, it seems that Laura married Jadwin primarily because he had the means (money) to obtain material possessions. For Laura, marriage is simply a means to an end (power and freedom of ideas), and the supposed love holding the marriage together is driven by material gain. I am not saying that Laura is stupid, she understands completely that money makes things easier and if all one needs to do to obtain such a life, then surrendering oneself to a marriage is completely appropriate. Laura clearly outlines this when she interprets love as “less a victory than a capitulation” (181). An interesting observation is that both Laura and Page, initially, have no intention of marrying anyone. Page goes so far as to prefer being a nun. Yet both Laura and Page ultimately surrender to the idea of marriage. Is this because they both realize the financial implications of marriage, that is they both “love” their husbands; or does Page differ from Laura, possessing genuine affections for Landry Court. This may be an interesting question to pursue further, as well as the influence of Laura’s readings on her seemingly spontaneous and random acts when Jadwin returns home, such as the costume drama in the library, and the morbid French poem.

Blog Posting #1-Reactions to The Pit (1-5)

After reading through chapter five of the novel, I fell that I have become acquainted with the language and vocabulary as well as fleshed out some interesting observations and questions. From the beginning, it was clear that the unique vocabulary and conversational styles of the characters were a direct consequence of the accepted interactions among men and women of the period. In the initial scene where Laura and the group were waiting for the Cresslers to arrive, the group deliberated about the appropriateness of approaching a man whom Laura though was a part of their group, Mr. Jadwin. They spend so much time arguing and waiting that the novel actually narrates this fact at least two times saying, “[they] did not move, and another five minutes passed by” (Norris 13). The text also repetitively italicizes ‘couldn’t’ to emphasize that there was a natural barrier to their desired action. It is clear that the public interactions between men and women are very structured and intended to be a formal almost ritualistic affair. The unspoken narration surrounding Laura and Mr. Jadwin’s interaction appeared, to me, a short, straight-forward, question and answer affair. This interaction, and the majority of interactions encountered thus far, demonstrates a clear focus on word choice, especially tone. When characters are introduced, I noticed that a large description follows detailing, briefly the physical appearance, and more extensively, an mental description I now understand what Bledstein meant when he said that “words were their primary social currency” (71). As some things become clear, there exist many interactions which I do not completely understand.

At one point in the novel, Laura Dearborn has three potential suitors aggressively vying for her hand. What I find unusual is that the suitors are aware of each other and are content with Laura playing them all as fools. Is it the societal structure which allows Laura to have three suitors yet not wish to choose? Laura tells each man that she will not marry him, then she says that they can keep trying, then she writes each of them letter saying she will never marry any of them. Then she decides to marry Mr. Jadwin despite this fact. What makes this novel frustrating, yet in agreement with Mid-Victorian values, is the amazingly slow pace with which the plot actually advances. After reading half the novel, not a whole lot of things have actually happened. Most of the novel is spent providing immense detail of every subtlety and inflection in the character’s conversations, which to a modern-day observer would not necessarily garner as much depth of analysis and commentary. Such interactions include the opera meeting, getting-dressed, the kiss, and the marriage.