The time period of this book is based on a period when Chicago was extremely populated. Not to say that they are not today, but we also have technology and a more organized police force. But to say the least, people were flooding the streets especially during the time of the fair. And these people were coming from all over the world. The fair was an exciting time where new ideas and inventions were being brought to light. This could be considered one of the greatest things to happen to Chicago, since they won a contest over multiple large cities to host this fair. But this city was not large enough to hold this huge population. Which in turn shows how the infamous serial killer, Holmes, and the fair become so related.

The book correlates the combination of the fair and the serial killer and how dependent Holmes “big idea” is. This big idea that Holmes had included turning his building into a hotel for the fair visitors. The idea made sense from an economic standpoint, and no one ever raised a question. Once the fair began the streets of Chicago were so full that no one even realized anyone missing.

With so many people crowding into Holmes’s hunting grounds and needing a place to stay due to the overpopulated area lead to an even bigger issue than anyone could have ever imagined. And this is why Larson combined the two aspects together.

During this time period in the United States, one of the biggest problems can be associated with the declining global economy. Specifically focusing on Chicago, the city has taken many blows as they recently suffered from a cholera and typhoid outbreak due to dirty water that took the lives of ten percent of the population (Pg.109). The city wanted to create revenue and also innovate an idea that would give Chicago an attractive look. The World Fair was the perfect way to generate mass revenue and attract various cultures and lots of tourism. At the end of chapter ten, Larson seems to be foreshadowing problems for Burnham. The economy was declining and union workers are creating unrest for better pay and working conditions. These challenges facing Burnham could affect the success of the fair, but chapter ten revealed a turning point for Burnham, his pride has bolstered after grieving the death of John Root. His pride bolstered to prove he is equally capable of building the fair without Root.

 

Many reasons could be attributed for intertwining the story of Holmes and Burnham. The story of Holmes is based on a true story that occurred in the World Fair and is also referred to as America’s first serial killer. This aspect alone creates a thrilling story to fuse with the creation of the fair. I also think Larson is using Holmes to amplify similar characteristics with Burnham and the city itself, while drastically different actions are taken between both characters.

Throughout what I’ve read thus far, I think the turmoil and grief engulfing Chicago and the rest of the United States can be traced back to the declining global economy. Whenever there is economic decrease, crime breaks out as people lose what they once had and can’t afford to feed themselves or their families. The collapse in economy shows movement towards a different way of running things and the World Fair in Chicago is an opportunity to bring revenue to the city and help improve the economy of the city through tourism and attracting thousands of people from around the world as Burnham and Root try to best the prior world’s fair in Paris. As the project begins its construction, problems arise as builders contract out labor jobs to foreigners for cheaper labor which causes riots with union workers along with mysterious disappearances that start popping up as crime levels increase in the city. The final lines of chapter 10 seemed to show how the intertwined stories of both Burnham and Holmes are important because Larson compares Chicago and Holmes by saying that neither wastes anything. This seems to be foreshadowing the next two chapters by expressing Holmes obsession with his soundproof basement and “glass” kiln in which will indefinitely be used to dispose of the bodies of everyone he kills. As crime increases, Chicago and Holmes “waste” many lives during this period.