Who was Lizzie Borden, the woman who will inspire the new season of Netflix’s ‘Monster’

The 4th season of the anthology series Monsterscreated by Ryan Murphy and IanBrennan for Netflix, will delve into the real-life case of Lizzie Bordenaccused (and later acquitted) of the brutal murders of her father and stepmother in 1892 in Fall River, Massachusetts.

More than 130 years later, the Borden case continues to intrigue. Part of the allure comes from the fact that Lizzie He never confessed and no one else was convicted. Another element is the contrast between the image of an educated girl and the brutality of the crime — something that challenges gender stereotypes and morality at the time. Find out more about the case below:

Who was Lizzie Borden?

Lizzie Andrew Borden was born on July 19, 1860, in Fall River, Massachusetts. He grew up in an upper middle class family, marked by the moral and religious rigidity of the Victorian era. Daughter of Andrew Borden, an austere businessman and well-known in the community, Lizzie had a modest youth, attending church and participating in social activities typical of women at the time.

Behind this appearance of normality, however, there were deep family tensions. Relations between Lizzie and her stepmother, Abby Borden, were cold and distant — and this tense coexistence would become one of the central elements of one of the most famous crimes in United States history.

The crime that shocked the 19th century

On the morning of August 4, 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were found hacked to death in their home. Lizzie’s father, aged 70, had his face practically disfigured by the blows; the stepmother, struck first, was found in the guest room.

The investigation quickly turned to Lizzie. She was the only person present in the house at the time of the murders, besides the maid Bridget Sullivan — who claimed to have slept during the crime. The evidence was circumstantial, but strange enough: Lizzie had reportedly been seen buying acid the day before, presented contradictions in her statements and was caught burning a dress shortly after the crime.

The trial, in 1893, became a true national spectacle. The press turned the case into a circus, alternating tones of horror and curiosity. Even so, Lizzie was acquitted, partly due to a lack of concrete evidence — the murder weapon was never found, and forensic examinations at the time were rudimentary.

Social curse and death

Although he escaped from prison, Lizzie was never forgiven by society. The Fall River community began to treat her with contempt and distrust. She and her sister moved into a mansion called Maplecroftstill in the same city, where they lived isolated for decades. Lizzie he died in 1927, aged 66, of pneumonia. His tomb remains to this day in Fall River, and is one of the pilgrimage points for curious people and fans of macabre stories.

About season 4

The role of Lizzie Borden it will be the actress Ella Beatty (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You). In addition to her, the cast includes actresses Rebecca Hall (The Dark House) and Vicky Kriepsalso present in Monster: The Ed Gein Story. Check out the streaming platform’s announcement:

See this photo on Instagram

A post shared by Netflix Brasil (@netflixbrasil)

READ ALSO: Lizzie Borden case, from the 4th season of ‘Monster’, has a film starring Kristen Stewart

Loading…

• Lizzie Borden

• monster

• netflix