Over a hundred years later the Lizzie Borden case still fascinates. It was Americas first widely covered murder trial, and its shocking details and unsolved conclusion have inspired books, plays, even an opera.
On August 4, 1892, in the small town of Fall River Massachusetts, Andrew Borden, and his second wife Abby Borden were murdered, both by blows to the head from an axe or hatchet. .
That morning at 11 am Lizzie called upstairs to the Borden's maid Bridget. She yelled that someone had killed her father and commanded her to run across the street to get a doctor. After the doctor arrived Bridget and a neighbor went upstairs to find Mrs. Borden, and found her on the floor of the guestroom, dead.
Lizzie Borden was the thirty-two year old youngest daughter of Andrew. She and her older sister Emma were both unmarried and lived at home. Even though Andrew was one of the wealthiest citizens in town, he lived with his family in a house with no running water or electricity in poorer part of town. .
Lizze was the key suspect of the murders. When questioned, she said she had been in the family's barn eating pears in the loft. No footprints were found in the barn and the temperature that day was over 100 degrees, too hot for any human to spend a length of time in there.
Other curious events had occurred the day before. Feeling ill, Abby Borden had seen the family doctor, telling him that she thought someone was trying to poison both her and her husband. Several people saw Lizzie at the druggists, where she attempted to buy prussic acid, a poison, but the druggist refused to sell it to her without a prescription.
There had been an undercurrent of animosity in the Borden household ever since Mr. Borden married Abby. By many accounts Lizzie did not get along with her stepmother. Lizzie felt that although she had a generous allowance from her father, he spent more money on his wife.
The case against Lizze Borden was based on circumstantial evidence.
There was not a spot of blood on Lizzie's clothing. ... Therefore when Lizzie went downstairs, she must have seen Mrs. ... Lizzie was seen at the barn. ... Borden had come in was the most logical thought for Lizzie to have. ... If Lizzie Borden killed her stepmother at 9:45 a.m. ...
On August 4, 1892, Andrew Borden, Lizzie's father, left the house in the morning and attended to some business. ... Shortly after, Lizzie Borden called out to the family's maid, Bridget Sullivan, "Come quick, father's dead!"." ... Lizzie Borden was indicted for the two murders in December 1892, and her trial began the following June. ... He persuaded George Robinson to assume the leadership position for the defense of Lizzie. ... Russell also recounted a conversation with Lizzie about a note, which according to Lizzie's account, she received from a messenger on the morning...
Lizzie was born and grew up in Fall River, Mass. ... Lizzie grew up with an elder sister, Emma. ... At the same time, however, Lizzie may have become very lonely. ... Lizzie died on June 1, 1927, at the age of 67. ... Emma died on June 21, 1927 at the age of 76, just ten days after Lizzie. ...
To be more precise, Laura is watching the goblins and Lizzie is hiding from them. ... Laura went home and promised to bring fruit for Lizzie the next night. ... When the reader is finally introduced to Laura and Lizzie it becomes apparent that Laura is more curious and outgoing than Lizzie. ... Lizzie on the other hand avoids the temptation of the goblin men and their fruit. It is difficult to not see Lizzie as a Christ-like figure. ...
Here we have Lizzie Borden murdering her own parents in a fit of rage. ... It could however, be seen as noble seeing as the reason Lizzie kills them is to stand up for her freedom of thought and direction in life. ... In Blood Relations, pity arises out of the way that Lizzie is treated by her parents and by the way her life turns out after the murders. ... Lizzie was fairly stable and snapped into a murderous rage with no prior warning. ... Lizzie's loss of her family ultimately drives her into a life of loneliness and misery. ...
The relationship between Lizzie and Laura is never defined in one genre. ... Lizzie and Laura's relationship is also represented as a religious and strong sisterhood. ... ""Oh," cried Lizzie, "Laura, Laura, You should not peep at goblin men."" ... "White and golden Lizzie stood." ... The imagery associated with Lizzie and Laura is angelic, pure and good. ...
The fruits Lizzie craves have properties like those of a drug rather than of nourishment this further supports the observation. ... Jeanie's death and the decline of Laura after she searches out the fruit for Lizzie, can be interpreted as addicts who could not break their addictions. ... This reference brings material weight to the sexual enjoyment Lizzie feels during the consumption of the fruits: Then sucked their fruit globes fair or red: Sweeter than honey from the rock. ... These themes in Goblin Market, in the eyes of Germaine Greer, stem from Christina Rossetti's observ...
Lizzie goes to look after her sister, and is invited to stay until she is better. ... When Darcy first proposes to her, he puts it in such terms that there is no way that Lizzie will accept him - "In vain have I struggled. ... Lizzie sees that he is confident that she will accept him, and this angers her, causing her to reject him more harshly than would have been the norm, "if I could feel gratitude, I would now thank you . ... After his first proposal is rejected, it appears that Darcy has a good look at himself and realises that a lot of what Lizzie says may be true, and he tries to chan...
