This paper will deal with how American culture changed and grew near the end of the 19th century. The Industrial Revolution, the American Civil War – which ended up with the abolition of Slavery – Reconstruction Era and much more historical and political occurrences, stamped the United States as a nation – the nation as we know it nowadays. In this paper, however, only the most serious development – the Industrial Revolution and its heir – will be handled, as otherwise dwelling on details of all 19th century occurrences would go beyond the boundaries.
To introduce the topic and issue, background information on the 19th century U.S. will be provided. The Industrial Revolution represents a term that can’t easily be assigned to a specific point of time, but rather a period of time that started approximately around the 1850s and ended presumably at the beginning of the new century. It’s hard to define a date as the Industrial Revolution, also called “The Machine Age”, had been a kind of process that had its beginnings in Great Britain and only came to America later on. What can be told for sure is that this Revolution with all its technical innovations and improvements in all fields of life represents the “break-through” of America as a superpower. These and more aspects will be explained at the beginning of the main part.
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Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. The White City
1. Background information on the 19th century U.S.
1.1 The Industrial Revolution “The Machine Age”
1.2 The heir of the Industrial Revolution
2. The White City – the real story behind the book
2.1 The historical novel
2.2 The Chicago World’s Fair
2.3 H.H. Holmes – America’s first serial killer
3. The impacts of the developments of the 19th century related to Alec Michod’s The White City
III. Conclusion
IV. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper examines how 19th-century American societal developments, particularly those related to the Industrial Revolution, are integrated into Alec Michod’s novel The White City. The research explores the author's synthesis of historical facts and fictional narrative, evaluating how effectively he captures the atmosphere and technological advancements of the turn-of-the-century United States.
- The influence of the Industrial Revolution on urbanization and social structures.
- The characteristics of the historical novel as a literary form.
- The Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 as a cultural and technological landmark.
- The criminal profile and historical impact of H.H. Holmes.
- The portrayal of gender roles and societal inequality in the Gilded Age.
Excerpt from the Book
2.3 H. H. Holmes – America’s first serial killer
I was born with the devil in me. I could not help the fact that I was born a murderer, no more than the poet can help the inspiration to sing.
Dr. H. H. Holmes
Confession
[A note]
Dr. Henry Howard Holmes, whose real name was Herman Webster Mudgett, was born on 24th November 1860 in Gilmartion, New Hampshire and was executed on 7th May 1896. He is almost buried in oblivion although he was the most barbarous and “successful” murderer in U.S. history. Given the degree of his murders he is said to be America’s first serial killer, although there had been other killers before him (Thomas Neill Cream, e.g.). The number of his victims is estimated up to two hundred. However, an exact figure can’t be given. He studied medicine and worked as a doctor and pharmacist in Chicago, which is evidence of his intelligence and knowledge (his profession as a doctor mirrors in the way he carried out his killings). In 1878 he married Clara A. Lovering, in 1887 Myrta Z. Belknap. In the years to follow he remarried several young women who all had to pay with their lives.
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: This section outlines the cultural context of the Gilded Age and introduces the paper’s goal of analyzing how 19th-century history and the Industrial Revolution are reflected in Alec Michod’s novel.
II. The White City: This chapter provides necessary background on the Industrial Revolution, the literary conventions of the historical novel, the significance of the Chicago World’s Fair, and the life of serial killer H.H. Holmes.
3. The impacts of the developments of the 19th century related to Alec Michod’s The White City: This analytical chapter explores how the author uses elements like technology, architecture, and social issues to place the reader within the historical setting of the novel.
III. Conclusion: The author concludes that while Michod attempts to weave historical reality into his narrative, the focus on the murder plot often overshadows the intended atmospheric portrayal of the 19th century.
IV. Bibliography: This section lists the primary and secondary literary sources and internet resources used to support the research.
Keywords
Industrial Revolution, Gilded Age, The White City, Alec Michod, H.H. Holmes, Chicago World’s Fair, Historical Novel, Urbanization, Gender Roles, Technology, American History, Serial Killer, Social Inequality, Literature, 19th Century.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the integration of 19th-century American history, particularly the Industrial Revolution, into the narrative structure of Alec Michod’s novel, The White City.
Which historical themes are central to the analysis?
Central themes include rapid urbanization, the rise of industrial technology, gender dynamics of the Gilded Age, and the socio-economic disparities of the late 19th century.
What is the central research question of this study?
The research asks how effectively the author combines historical fact and fiction to create an authentic 19th-century atmosphere while telling the story of America's first serial killer.
What methodology does the author use?
The author conducts a textual analysis, examining specific passages from the novel and comparing them against historical data regarding the World’s Columbian Exposition and the biography of H.H. Holmes.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
The main body examines the Industrial Revolution's impact on American society and analyzes how specific novelistic tropes and real-world events like the 1893 Fair are utilized by the author.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Industrial Revolution, Gilded Age, Historical Novel, H.H. Holmes, Chicago World’s Fair, and American History.
How does the author characterize the 1893 Chicago World's Fair?
The paper describes the Fair as a reflection of American technological pride and progress, while also noting the contrast between its idealized name "The White City" and the grim reality of the city's pollution and crime.
How does the novel portray the role of women in the 19th century?
Through the character Dr. Handley, the novel depicts the struggle of women attempting to gain independence and recognition in professional fields despite widespread gender discrimination.
What was the outcome of the research regarding the author's success?
The conclusion suggests that while the book is a fast-paced thriller, it does not fully succeed in immersing the reader in the historical complexities of the era, as the crime narrative dominates the plot.
- Quote paper
- Susanne Kunkel (Author), 2008, The developments and technical innovations of the 19th century U.S. pictured on Alec Michod's "The White City" , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/112701
