How is possible that Holmes was able to get away with so many crimes? It repeatedly mentions how good looking and charming he was so it makes sense that he was so easily able to fool women, but what about the men, like all those creditors?
I was also wondering about that, but then I realized that it must have been pretty simple after developing an elaborate plan, because that time period was not as advanced as it is now. Also, I think that his charm and slyness also worked against the men. He was just slick in whatever he did and very persuasive. A lot of times, he made it seem as though he intended to pay people back, but he never had the real, genuine interest to do so.-saml
I think there are many reasons. A weak law enforcement system was definitely one of the causes. There really wasn’t any investigation agency and nobody noticed the fact that all those women were missing. In most cases the women were separated from their families so there was no one checking on them which is probably why nobody made a big deal about them disappearing. Also the fact that Chicago was growing at such an alarming rate could be one cause. It is hard to keep track of people when you have so many immigrants coming in. I think Holmes took advantage of the chaos in Chicago and was able to use it to mask his malicious acts. I agree with Linsa, his charm definitely was another cause. His natural beauty was a reason for people trusted; after all how could someone so polite and handsome be so cruel?
The book repeatedly mentions the sheer size of Chicago and how a person could get lost in it, breaking away from past lives and starting anew. Because this was the case for most of the small town women that moved to Chicago to find work, their disappearance was less noticeable than it would have been in a less populous setting. That Holmes named his hotel the World's Fair Hotel reflects his intentions to use the chaos of the event to work unsuspected. His deliberate efforts to create a trustworthy personality kept both women and creditors fooled on a personal level while covering his tracks with false businesses and names. His personality propelled him to take every necessary precaution, which combined with the unexpectedness and almost absurd notion of a serial killer helped keep Holmes' crimes hidden. Hector
I thought it was for the most part because of the lack of suspicion. Multiple people question Holmes some, but only one woman so far has actually looked into the crimes and Holmes' role in them.
i agree with Jenna that Holmes was superstitious in all his activities which is why he got away with it so much. I think it was also because of his planning. he purposely picked women out because he knew it would be easier to seduce them and physically overcome them. no offense to anyone
I was also wondering about that, but then I realized that it must have been pretty simple after developing an elaborate plan, because that time period was not as advanced as it is now. Also, I think that his charm and slyness also worked against the men. He was just slick in whatever he did and very persuasive. A lot of times, he made it seem as though he intended to pay people back, but he never had the real, genuine interest to do so.-saml
ReplyDeleteI think there are many reasons. A weak law enforcement system was definitely one of the causes. There really wasn’t any investigation agency and nobody noticed the fact that all those women were missing. In most cases the women were separated from their families so there was no one checking on them which is probably why nobody made a big deal about them disappearing. Also the fact that Chicago was growing at such an alarming rate could be one cause. It is hard to keep track of people when you have so many immigrants coming in. I think Holmes took advantage of the chaos in Chicago and was able to use it to mask his malicious acts. I agree with Linsa, his charm definitely was another cause. His natural beauty was a reason for people trusted; after all how could someone so polite and handsome be so cruel?
ReplyDeleteThe book repeatedly mentions the sheer size of Chicago and how a person could get lost in it, breaking away from past lives and starting anew. Because this was the case for most of the small town women that moved to Chicago to find work, their disappearance was less noticeable than it would have been in a less populous setting. That Holmes named his hotel the World's Fair Hotel reflects his intentions to use the chaos of the event to work unsuspected. His deliberate efforts to create a trustworthy personality kept both women and creditors fooled on a personal level while covering his tracks with false businesses and names. His personality propelled him to take every necessary precaution, which combined with the unexpectedness and almost absurd notion of a serial killer helped keep Holmes' crimes hidden.
ReplyDeleteHector
I thought it was for the most part because of the lack of suspicion. Multiple people question Holmes some, but only one woman so far has actually looked into the crimes and Holmes' role in them.
ReplyDeletei agree with Jenna that Holmes was superstitious in all his activities which is why he got away with it so much. I think it was also because of his planning. he purposely picked women out because he knew it would be easier to seduce them and physically overcome them. no offense to anyone
ReplyDelete