IndexPathos in The Devil in the White CityEthos in The Devil in the White CityConclusionReferencesSmoking, gambling and drugs are among the many examples that Most people associate it with an addiction. The topic of this essay is the novel The Devil in the White City, in which the author, Erik Larson, writes about H.H. Holmes, a charming and cunning serial killer from Chicago who is predicted to have lured and killed more than two hundred people in 1890 .Through the use of pathos and ethics, Larson forcefully states that when one has a behavioral addiction, one suffers the constant feeling of dissatisfaction, thus continuing the bad cycle. Larson begins to build his credibility with historical facts, esteemed sources, and effectively uses emotional appeals in the text. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Pathos in The Devil in the White City An urgent tone builds Larson's pathos, allowing him to humanize the fact that addictions recur due to the persistent need for a high, only to feel dissatisfied after the deed. In the novel, Holmes confesses to twenty-seven murders but is said to have killed at least two hundred people. There is a fine line between the definition of a murderer and that of a serial killer. A murderer usually has a personal connection to a victim and is a one-time event. On the other hand, a serial killer is described as a person who kills in a series of events and enjoys the high stakes that this will entail. Larson describes Holmes' serial killings and behavioral addiction as “a transient thing, like the scent of a freshly cut hyacinth. Once it was gone, only another acquisition could restore it” (Larson 257). Larson makes it known that Holmes' serial killing is no different than the addictions people struggle with every day, just not to some intense degree. Larson faces and uncovers the "ugly truth" - for lack of a better term, and forces the reader to realize that an addiction is not a problem you can walk away from. The pressing tone used implies that the audience is quite similar to Holmes but may never have realized it due to his morbid and psychopathic tendencies. Although the readers are not serial killers, the author makes the text relatable because everyone is addicted to something. Larson adds: “He liked to be close enough to feel the approach of death in the mounting panic of his victims. It was then that his pursuit of possession entered its most satisfying phase” (Larson 257). The abnormal psychological gratification that Holmes gets is quite disturbing to the audience and it is Larson's intention to do so. The author creates a subliminal message throughout the text that helps the reader understand the addiction they are struggling with, which affects many of them. Ethics in The Devil in the White City Throughout his piece, Larson adopts an informational ethic to highlight his credibility to support his thesis using strong sources. At the end of the novel, the New York Times states: “Though their crimes may be disgusting, they are not sick in either the medical or legal sense. Instead, the serial killer is typically a sociopathic personality who lacks the internal control – guilt – or conscience to guide his behavior, but has an excessive need to control and dominate others. He certainly realizes that he has committed a sinful act, but he simply does not care about his human prey. The sociopath has never internalized a moral code that prohibits murder. Having fun is all that matters” (Larson 408). The author recognizes the stereotypical behaviors of.