Burnham is sensitive, and plans with compassion toward his family and the workers of the worlds fair. He is thorough and gives great attention to many of the details in regards to the safety, well-being, and enjoyment of the public at the fair. On page 137, it states “Burnham tried to anticipate every conceivable threat to the fair. He enforced excessive fire prevention projects, over-strengthened structures, and created a few options for clean drinking water. As the project went on, Burnham’s attitude began to change. The fair became the priority. Known for treating his worker’s exceptionally well, on page 155, the shift in his priorities is stated: “The dismissed men, Burnham knew, faced homelessness and poverty; their families confronted the real prospect of starvation. But the fair came first.”

 

Olmstead is persistent, and detailed often to the point of obsession. He comes from a field not widely applauded yet (landscaping), and it has taken him time to reach the point he is at. It took him some convincing to even take on the fair as a project, and he was at first apprehensive. On page 50 it states “Olmstead did think about it and began to see the exposition as an opportunity to achieve something for which he had fought long and hard but almost always with disappointing results.” Olmstead is determined in his efforts; a good example is in his obsession with the fair’s boat system, at which Burnham becomes annoyed. Olmstead’s persistence and passion for his projects is admirable, but his health often causes him to sacrifice some of the precious time needed for his projects.

 

Holmes is a dark individual who also has wit and charm on his side, a frightening combination. He is manipulative and is able to make people, especially women, see things his way. A good example is on page 146 it states “Holmes possessed Julia now as fully as if she were an antebellum slave, and he reveled in his possession.” Holmes loves his ability to manipulate, and embraces his morbid behavior as just a part of who he is.

Daniel Burnham- Burnham is a very skilled and prideful man who, while a talented architect himself, has more of the business and people skills when compared with his partner John Root. This makes them a dynamic duo whose strengths and weaknesses balance well with each other. From an early age, Burnham was taught the value of public service, which he transferred into becoming an architect – a very public-driven occupation. In the book, it states that “Daniel Hudson Burnham was born… into a family devoted to… obedience, self-subordination, and public service” (19).

Frederick Olmsted – Olmsted, hired by Burnham and Root to help design the fair, is a distinguished landscape architect who hopes to validate his profession through his work on the fair. Throughout the book, he suffers from melancholy and depression, largely due to the underwhelming response of people towards his work. Olmsted’s greatest value, I believe, is receiving the recognition he believes he is entitled to. In the book, it states that “It irked him that few people seemed to understand the effects he worked so long and hard to create” (50). Olmsted only agrees to work with Burnham and Root because “Ellsworth assured Olmsted that by agreeing to help, he would be joining his name to one of the greatest artistic undertakings of the century” (49).

H.H. Holmes – I believe that Holmes’ greatest value is status. Throughout the novel, Holmes can be seen controlling people’s actions through his charm and good looks, showing his value of power over others. He desires to be seen as wealthy and powerful. As the book says, “He walked with confidence and dressed well, conjuring an impression of wealth and achievement” (35).

Daniel Burnham- Values and beliefs that stuck out to me about Burnham early was definitely his status. On page 21 Burnham states,”my idea is to work up a big business, too handle big things, to deal with big business men, and to build up a big organization, for you can’t handle big things unless you have an organization.” This stood out to me because he was very set that in order to be anything in life or to be successful you had to be a big business man and be somebody who is important and big in status. Burnham also took great pride in how things looked and would admire small details just like those items in ship (Olympic).

John Root- Although Root and Burnham were very close allies I feel as though they were very different and that’s what made them work together so well. John Root valued innovation and creativity. Burnham even said that he was “their design engine…. and a faraway look would come into his eyes, and the building was there before him–every stone.” He was able just to see and area and imagine in his and exactly what the building was going to look like and every detail of that design. Burnham was definitely one who could handle the business side and Root could handle the design. Both men complimented each other very well.

H. H. Holmes- He valued power more than anything. He was able to find weak and helpless women many who are leaving the comfort of home for the first time and he could control them. He was very good and successful at manipulating others for his own selfish reasons. On page 73, Holmes tells Strowers a lady who did his laundry he would give here 6,000 dollars to name him as his beneficiary, when she asked him why he said he would make 4,000 dollars in profit and she would have 6,000 dollars to spend in the meantime. Later on in the paragraph it talks about him when she was going to accept the offer he whispers in her softly don’t be afraid of me (pg 73). This terrified her and this was a perfect example of how Holmes was. He had the money to persuade and women to name him as her beneficiary just so he could make money when he killed her and she got to live happy for her remaining time.