Devil in the White City #1

First, I will admit that I needed to look up the definitions for 'evanescence' (I've only heard of the band :P) and for 'ineluctable.'


evanescent |ˌevəˈnesənt|adjective chiefly poetic/literarysoon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading ordisappearing : a shimmering evanescent bubble. 
ineluctable |ˌiniˈləktəbəl|adjectiveunable to be resisted or avoided; inescapable : the ineluctable facts of history.
The Devil in the White City reveals that good and evil cannot exist without the other. If the world, or more relevant to this book, Chicago, was purely 'good' or 'evil,' than it actually would not have a label at all, because it would be the norm. "The shadow proves the sunshine," and "In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present" illustrate good and evil's codependency.  But that is only an "if" situation, and in reality and in this book, good and evil is in fact, ineluctable. 
Here, the Chicago World's Fair is good. It is a symbol of American patriotism, modern advancement, etc., especially to its creators and fellow Chicagoans. To the builders, including Burnham and Root, and Chicagoans, it was their pride and glory. Chicago was basically seen as nothing more than a stink-hole, and only the World's Fair could have given it the recognition that its citizens were desperate for.
While regular people, either locals or foreigners, marveled at all the fair had to offer, one man, H.H. Holmes, found dozens of opportunities to tarnish the World's Fair. He is infamously known as one of America's first serial killers, and used the White City to reel in his victims. 
The two main characters, Burnham and Holmes definitely have several essential differences between them. First being their passion (well, in Holmes' case, a creepy obsession). Burnham is passionate about drawing and architecture. He is concerned about doing his best, and constantly strives to one-up his competitors, and even his old work. At the beginning of the book, Burnham is quoted, saying "Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood." This quote emphasizes his spirit, and the good that he brings to the creation of the World's Fair. 
Holmes , on the other hand, is quoted at the beginning of the book, saying " I was born with he devil in me. I could not help the fact that I was a murderer, no more than a poet can help the inspiration to sing." While Burnham was given the gift of art and architecture and intentionally decided to make a living out of it, Holmes says this is such a way that almost makes him sound like he was taken advantage of. For example, when he says "I was born with the devil in me," he sounds like he is trying to convince an audience that he isn't the one to blame for all the murders, that there is something, or someone far worse who is actually the cause of it all. Then, he says "I could not help the fact that I was a murderer" like he didn't have any other choice but to kill. 
Even though the differences between Burnham and Holmes are quite evident, they did, in some twisted way, have things in common. For one, their minds were completely wrapped up in their occupation. Burnham was, as illustrated in this book, in love with his job and always tried to be the best. Holmes, always moving from place to place and scheming, was consumed by killing. Secondly, another thing they had in common was that they were good at what they did.