Take a story's temperature by studying its tone. Is it hopeful? Cynical? Snarky? Playful?
Enthralled and Somber
As we're dealing with the two sides of human nature here—you know, the side of human nature that wants to build perfect cities and the side of human nature that wants to build murder castles—it's only fitting that author Erik Larson takes two vastly different tones.
Like most of us, he's enthralled by the fair:
One of the delights of the fair was never knowing who might turn up beside you. (3.11.8)
Larson describes the fair as "perfect" (3.1.34), a "fairest dream" (3.21.31), and "beautiful" (5.1.2). He recreates the fair in an exciting tone, allowing us to experience its splendors as visitors would have in 1893.
At the same time, Larson is somber in his descriptions of Holmes and his castle. He recreates the macabre, choosing to highlight words like "possessed" (2.4.2), "rising panic" (3.5.4), "woefully and gruesomely" (5.3.9). Quite a stark contrast from his cheery descriptions of the White City…and with good reason.