In The White City: Murder, Magic, And Exposition That Changed America By Erik Larson

When the Paris Exposition was first developed it was intended to be a major cultural fair that would highlight the successes of the modern world. Because of their large scale and elaborate design, the structures that were built to accompany this fair greatly influenced the concepts of fine architecture throughout the world. Soon the Paris Exposition became known as the major focal point of architecture for that time period. While this drove some architects toward eternal glory and fame, other major designers became enveloped with the concept of out doing the great works that had been exhibited in Paris, France. Throughout the novel Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America Erik Larson`s use of extravagant

In the initial creation of the White City the designers’ primary reason for the fairs grand size was to exceed the large success in Paris that had overshadowed even the most renowned pieces of American architecture. Larson used that phenomenon as “…a world`s fair so big and glamorous and so exotic that visitors came away believing that no exposition could surpass it.” (26). Larson`s use of the words glamorous and exotic make France`s fair appear to be the upmost success of architecture of the time period. Readers now have a standard set in their mind that nothing could possibly compare to the success of the French, and the world`s fair had to face this unobtainable guideline set by Paris`s feat. In contrast Larson describes that “Most people found

By using the words dung, anthracite, and putrefaction Larson makes Chicago appear to be at a disadvantage; especially when contrasted to Paris`s glory. Chicago’s desperate need to defeat Paris is partially because of the poor conditions it is trying to compensate for. Larson’s language illustrates the start of a competition of complex architectural advances that develops into the main motivation behind the building of the White City.

The initial construction of Chicago`s World’s Fair was greatly dominated by the desperation to compete with the elegant design of the Paris exposition. This competition also affected the future of American construction and the weak environment that was in Chicago slowed the process of construction. This situation was difficult because “… Burnham and Root were being called upon to build what amounted to an entire city in the same amount of time- not just any city, but one that would surpass the brilliance of the Paris exposition.” (44). The depiction of the strain and stress set forth by the success of Paris is reiterated to the reader each time the Paris Exposition Universelle is described in such an adored