The characters in Erik Larson's "The Devil in the White City" are affluent individuals at the heights of their success. Despite their achievements, they are haunted by the hardships and tragedies typical of the nineteenth century. Their lives are marked by the harsh realities of that era, including rail accidents, illnesses, and the early loss of family members.

This juxtaposition of wealth and suffering illustrates the complexity of their experiences. While they navigated the challenges of their time, the scars left by such tragedies shaped their identities and influenced their journeys, revealing a deep-seated resilience amidst the chaos of life in the 1800s.