characters who change over the course of the devil in the white city

Who is Charles Atwood?

Who is Cephas Humphrey?

Who is Charles Chappell?

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Who are the main characters in The Devil in the White City?

Character ListDaniel H. Burnham. ... H. H. Holmes. A serial murderer who builds the World's Fair Hotel. ... John Root. Burnham's architectural partner. ... Frederick Law Olmsted. ... Harry Codman. ... Rudolf Ulrich. ... Francis “Frank” Millet. ... Sol Bloom.More items...

Who are the two main characters in The Devil in the White City?

The Devil in the White City Daniel Burnham, the protagonist, is a talented Chicago architect who, along with his partner John Root, is given the task of building the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, the World's Columbian Exposition.

What does Holmes do in Devil in the White City?

The Devil in the White City In Chicago, Holmes uses his skills of manipulation, charm, and deceit to commit several crimes, including theft, insurance fraud, and murder.

Who is the killer in The Devil in the White City?

The murderer was Dr. Henry H. Holmes, America's first modern serial killer, who notably constructed the notorious “Murder Castle” in the fair's shadow, which contained a dissection table, a gas chamber, and a crematorium. The Devil in the White City spins a spellbinding tale of how these two men's lives intersected.

Is Devil in the White City true story?

Devil in the White City tells the true story of Dr. H. H. Holmes, America's first modern serial killer and the man behind the “Murder Castle” near the 1893 Chicago World's Fair; and Daniel H. Burnham, a demanding but brilliant architect who races to make his mark on the world.

Who is Emeline cigrand?

Emeline Cigrand's a beautiful young woman who works as a stenographer in the Dwight, Illinois office of Dr. Keeley (of the famous Keeley cure for alcoholism). Benjamin Pitezel tells Holmes of her beauty, and he writes to her offering her a job as his personal secretary.

Who is the first recorded serial killer?

H.H. Holmes, byname of Herman Mudgett, (born May 16, 1861?, Gilmanton, New Hampshire, U.S.—died May 7, 1896, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), American swindler and confidence trickster who is widely considered the country's first known serial killer.

Was H.H. Holmes in his grave?

Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon, PAH. H. Holmes / Place of burial

How was Holmes able to exert such power over his victims?

He experiences a sexual release when he exercises power over the last moments in a person's life, when he can hear them panic or plead. For this reason, Holmes “plays” with women by seducing them over a long period of time—from courtship to marriage or pregnancy—before killing them. Holmes is a master manipulator.

Who was the killer in devil?

Who is the killer in Devil (2010) movie? Devil is the main killer in the movie who came down to earth in the form of an old woman. In the first two-third part of the movie, this is unrevealed that the old lady is the Devil. In the last part of the film when it comes to light – it was a shocking twist for viewers.

Who was the serial killer at the World Fair?

Henry Howard Holmes,” built a small hotel in the Englewood neighborhood, a few miles west of the fairgrounds. He lured young women who had come to Chicago to work at the fair. He killed at least 27 of them, and probably many more. He even built a crematory and a lime pit in his basement to dispose of their bodies.

Is there a movie for Devil in the White City?

After being reported at the start of the year, Variety reports that Hulu has now officially greenlit The Devil in the White City from Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio, with Keanu Reeves leading the cast.

How are Burnham and Holmes similar?

Also like Burnham, Holmes is good-looking and exudes confidence and strength. He calculates every move in both business and personal relationships, even years ahead of time. He views people only as assets for himself, to be discarded once he is finished playing with and using them.

Why is Chicago called the White City?

At the core of the fair was an area that quickly became known as the White City for its buildings with white stucco siding and its streets illuminated by electric lights.

Which place is known as the White City?

Tel Aviv was founded in 1909 and developed as a metropolitan city under the British Mandate in Palestine. The White City was constructed from the early 1930s until the 1950s, based on the urban plan by Sir Patrick Geddes, reflecting modern organic planning principles.

Is Devil in the White City a good book?

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson is a 2003 publication. Astounding! To be clear, this is a true crime book about H. H. Holmes, but it's much more that- it's also about a time, a place, a huge event in history, and those who brought it all together.

Who was this man? What advice did the man give Emeline?

Ned is one of Holme's former employees. He warns Emeline to get away from Holmes, but she doesn't listen to him.

The Devil in the White City

From the text: Pangalos had secured choice ground at the middle of the Midway, adjacent to the Ferris Wheel, in a Muslim diaspora that included a...

The Devil in the White City

The idea of "evil" is certainly up for debate. The book centers on the Chicago World's Fair and on how two very different men shaped its legacy. In...

The Devil in the White City: Character List | SparkNotes

A list of all the characters in The Devil in the White City. Characters include: Daniel H. Burnham, H. H. Holmes, John Root, Frederick Law Olmsted, Harry Codman and more.

The Devil in the White City Character Analysis | LitCharts

Need help on characters in Erik Larson's The Devil in the White City? Check out our detailed character descriptions. From the creators of SparkNotes.

The Devil in the White City Characters | GradeSaver

Daniel H. Burnham. Daniel Burnham is one of America's most skilled 19th and early 20th century architects. Based in Chicago, he and his partner John Root are given the responsibility of designing and overseeing the construction of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, officially the World's Columbian Exposition.

The Devil in the White City - SparkNotes

As the protagonist, Burnham demonstrates the impressive creation that can come from the human mind. He and his partner, John Root, are given the responsibility of creating and overseeing the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

H. H. Holmes Character Analysis in The Devil in the White City | LitCharts

The blue-eyed, charismatic, and sociopathic doctor who commits multiple murders at the end of the 19th century, Holmes is born with the surname Mudgett, and regularly uses other aliases, such as Henry Gordon, H.S. Campbell, Alexander Bond, and Alex E. Cook. Holmes is a remorseless murderer who enjoys the power he exerts over young, timid women who travel to Chicago, and feels an almost sexual ...

The Devil in the White City - PLANO EAST SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood. Daniel H. Burnham Director of Works World’s Columbian Exposition, 1893 I was born with the devil in me.

Who is the painter who created the white city?

The talented painter who develops the distinctive white paint that helps earn the World’s Fair the nickname, “The White City.” Millet is also responsible for organizing entertainment at the Fair in order to attract more visitors.

Who was the architect who was fired by Louis Sullivan?

The great American architect who works for Louis Sullivan as a young man, and is quickly fired by Sullivan. Wright later befriends Sullivan and argues that he is one of America’s greatest architects.

Who is Holmes' helper?

A loyal helper of Holmes who also goes by the aliases Howard E. Phelps and Benton T. Lyman and helps Holmes with his murders and confidence tricks. Holmes later betrays Pitezal when he murders him and his children.

Who is the man who assassinates Harrison?

Prendergast is a young, mentally disturbed man who believes that Mayor Harrison will appoint him to a government position in return for Prendergast ’s vigorous campaigning. Prendergast ultimately assassinates Harrison when he fails to get the role he believed he should.

Who was the director of works at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair?

He is instrumental in assembling an elite creative team to design… read analysis of Daniel Burnham

Who is Frank Haven Hall?

A woman who overcomes being deaf, mute, and blind to learn how to communicate. She meets Frank Haven Hall, the inventor of the Braille printer that teaches her to read, at the World’s Fair.

Where does Julia Conner's sister live?

Julia Conner’s sister, who travels to Chicago to live in Holmes ’s building, then leaves after Holmes is indiscreet with her.

Daniel Burnham

Daniel Burnham is a gifted architect who becomes part of the dynamic duo of Burnham and Root. John Root is considered the creative genius, and Burnham is the closer—he executes the designs and gets the business. When Root dies unexpectedly after they are hired for the fair, Burnham is tempted to quit, but he is compelled to prove his worth.

H.H. Holmes

H.H. Holmes is a violent psychopath who possibly killed even before adulthood. Holmes has no moral center or respect for the law; he commits bigamy and various other types of fraud as well as multiple murders. Holmes gets a medical degree and then comes to Chicago to make his fortune.

Frederick Olmsted

Frederick Olmsted is the country's foremost landscape architect. Nearing the end of his career, he reluctantly agrees to landscape the desolate wasteland of Jackson Park for the Chicago World's Fair. In the process he suffers many ailments and constantly fears that others will wreck his design.

Frank Geyer

Frank Geyer is a dogged, thorough, and smart detective who is assigned by the Philadelphia police department to find the three missing Pitezel children, who were traveling with Holmes a short time before Holmes was arrested for the murder of their father.

Who is the matron in the Woman's Building?

A young architect who wins a competition to design the Woman's Building. She clashes with the society matron, Berthe Honore Palmer, who desires more control over the building because she is head of the Board of Lady Managers. Hayden is driven to a mental breakdown.

How old is Benjamin's daughter?

Benjamin and Carrie's 15-year-old daughter. Holmes kills her.

Who killed Emeline in the movie?

Neighbors and friends of Emeline's who keep asking Holmes about the young woman's disappearance. They claim to suspect Holmes killed Emeline but never go to the police or move away.

Who gives a monopoly over images of the Fair?

The single photographer to whom Burnham gives a monopoly over images of the Fair.

Who is the mayor of Chicago in 1891?

A young Irish immigrant who is subject to worsening mental deterioration. He is obsessed with the former mayor, Carter Henry Harrison, and throws himself into the campaign for the April 1891 election. He assumes he will get a position in the administration. Harrison loses but wins when he runs yet again in 1893. Throughout the campaigns Prendergast had been writing letters to Chicago's notable men, claiming to be one of them and telling them he'd be working with them soon. When it becomes clear that Harrison has no idea who he is and is not actually going to appoint him to corporation counsel, he goes to Harrison's house and shoots them. He then turns himself in, and is found guilty and given the death penalty by a jury.

Who is Frank Geyer?

Frank Geyer is a detective in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who is assigned Holmes' case when he is brought in for insurance fraud. Geyer is immediately suspicious of Holmes and begins to investigate his past. It is at this point that he becomes convinced that Holmes is guilty of a multitude of crimes, including the murder of three children in his care. Determined to uncover the truth, Geyer goes on a journey across the Midwest, following in the footsteps of Holmes and the missing children until he finds the answers he's been looking for.

Who is the architect who assembles a team of elite architects and manages to get them to work together?

The ambitious lead architect and Director of Works for the World’s Columbian Exposition. Burnham is a skilled leader who assembles a team of elite architects and manages to get them to work together. He works tirelessly under pressure, and pulls off the creation of the White City in an impossibly short timeline. While he harbors insecurity over his rejections from Harvard and Yale, Burnham grows as a businessman and artist to become one of the most famous architects in America

Who is the director of concessions on the Midway?

A young entrepreneur from San Francisco, Bloom initially only wants to bring an Algerian Village to the Fair, but Commissioner De Young knows how business-savvy he is and convinces him to lead the Midway. Bloom has a way of creating profitable solutions to most problems, and later becomes a congressman.

What happens to Sullivan after Burnham dies?

He is talented but difficult to work with, and his firm fails after the Fair. After Burnham dies, Sullivan turns against him and puts down his work. He dies an alcoholic.

Who is Charles Chappell?

Charles Chappell. Articulator hired occasionally by Holmes. He begins as a machinist for Holmes, who then discovers Chappell can clean and reassemble skeletons to sell. Chappell is willfully ignorant and discreet. Next section Daniel H. Burnham.

Who is George Davis?

George Davis. Director General of the National Commission. Davis is a bit bossy and pushy, and he often struggles with Burnham over who should control the artistic design of the interior exhibits. He also wants his political commission to control federal money.

Who is Minnie's sister?

Anna “Nannie” Williams. Minnie’s sister and one of Holmes’ victims. She is protective and suspicious of Holmes, but quickly warms up when he invites her over for the summer. He promises to take them to Europe before suffocating her in his vault.

Why does Olmsted love Codman?

Olmsted loves Codman because of his loyalty and genuine understanding of Olmsted’s taste and vision. Codman covers for Olmsted when he is sick, and while working on the Fair, dies of appendicitis at age 29.

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Who is Charles Atwood?

Charles Atwood is a New York designer who replaces John Root on the World's Fair project.

Who is Cephas Humphrey?

Cephas Humphrey is a mover who inadvertently helps Holmes get rid of the corpses of Nannie and Minnie Williams.

Who is Charles Chappell?

Charles Chappell is a machinist and "articulator" who strips flesh from bodies and reassembles the skeletons. He works for Holmes.