Lectures in History
1893 Lizzie Borden Trial, Part 1
Dec 8, 2024
Explore the infamous 1893 trial of Lizzie Borden, accused of brutally murdering her father and stepmother. Delve into the significant societal impacts of the crime during a time of economic disparity in Fall River. Uncover class struggles within the Borden family, and how Victorian gender norms shaped societal expectations for women. Learn about the tensions brewing in the Borden household leading up to the murders, revealing a web of family conflict and suspicion.
57:20
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Quick takeaways
- The brutal nature of the Borden murders reflected deep social tensions in Fall River, highlighting economic divides and class biases of the time.
- Lizzie Borden's trial became a sensationalized public spectacle, influenced by her family's complex dynamics and societal prejudices surrounding women's behavior.
Deep dives
The Borden Murders: A Chronology of Violence
The Borden murders, which occurred on August 4, 1892, involved the brutal slaying of Andrew Borden and his wife Abby in their Fall River home. Both victims were attacked with an axe or hatchet, resulting in Abby being struck 18 times and Andrew 11 times, with neighbors hearing nothing in a respectable neighborhood. The violent nature of the murders suggested a crime rooted in intense fury rather than robbery, particularly since there was no apparent motive and the Borden family had some wealth. This shocking event highlighted not just the immediate fear of a potential axe-wielding maniac in the community, but also pointed to deeper social tensions in Fall River, a town characterized by stark economic divides.
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