The Devil in the White City depicts an era when women were leaving the 'burbs for the cities. They were experiencing certain freedoms for the first time, choosing where they wanted to live and work and, eventually, who they wanted to marry. Those women who embarked on adventures paved the way for other women and everything was great.
But they had to be careful with guys like Holmes. Because yeah: Holmes isn't your ordinary guy. From the get-go, he sets his sights on a very particular type of victim: young, beautiful, single women. Drawn to his good looks and charming personality, women think he's a catch. But how wrong they are.
Questions About Women and Femininity
- Why were young women attracted to Chicago around the turn of the century? What opportunities did the city afford?
- What are some characteristics of the Gilded Age woman? How does Holmes take advantage of these traits?
- What makes Holmes so enticing to women? How do women perceive Holmes?
- Does Holmes select his victims at random? Or does he have a "type?"
Chew on This
Because Holmes is handsome and charming, he's able to manipulate women for his own pleasures.
Since women moving Chicago for the first time are unfamiliar with city behavior and conventions, they make easy prey for Holmes.