Murder, Depression, and the World's Fair

The steady decline of the economy and the steady increase in Holmes's murders signify the increased vulnerability of the times. Masked by the brilliant new lights and white paint were the true colors of the times: the filth, corruption, and exploitation in Chicago during the late Gilded Age. As Holmes's imposing new building obscured his many behind-the-door crimes the fair the imposing new city, Chicago, with its seemingly limitless vertical and horizontal expansion, hid many of the hardships down below. Furthermore, the World's Fair opened before its completion, revealing the semi-haphazard attitude of the fair. The littering on the ground was hidden by the resplendence above. The fair, representative of Chicago and the United States, was inspired by men whose heads were in the clouds but kept their legs churning on the ground; they were idealistic in their aspirations yet pragmatic in their approach. Furthermore, that is why even working-class families were willing to come see this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition. Thanks to weekends and such holidays as Chicago Day, the fair attracted everyone during the worst depression ever at the time, even though some had to scrub together the pennies to do so.