This article discusses violence and murder.
Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan's Monster is a true-crime anthology show created for Netflix that, for the past three seasons, has covered infamous criminals like Jeffrey Dahmer, Ed Gein, as well as Lyle and Erik Menendez. For its fourth season, Monster takes on one of the most widely-discussed cases in American history: Lizzie Borden's alleged murder of Andrew and Abby Borden, her father and stepmother. The case has remained a subject of public interest for generations, but Monster is once again polarizing audiences for its inaccuracies.
Over eight episodes, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story weaves in the rumors and speculations about Lizzie that have developed over the last hundred years. This includes her supposed relationship with the Bordens' maid, Bridget "Maggie" Sullivan, her friendship with Nance O'Neil, as well as who Lizzie "actually" killed. While Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story uses real people and a documented criminal case for its story, many of its scenes are fictionalized or speculative, so looking at what actually happened, as well as what remains unclear, offers a clearer picture of the case beyond the small screen.
It's easy to get swept up in Lizzie and her family's maid's love story, since it plays a major part in Monster's narrative. Although Bridget Sullivan is often dismissively referred to as "Maggie" – the name of the Bordens' previous maid – Vicky Krieps gives her a magnetic presence, portraying her as strong-willed, well-traveled, and resourceful. The two quickly become close, form something of an alliance, and turn their relationship romantic with a kiss by Episode 2. As their relationship develops, "Maggie" introduces Lizzie to a wider world of culture and the arts, but their love story takes a dark turn when she confesses her love and, in Monster's retelling, plants the idea of murder in Lizzie's mind. However, like in many true crime TV shows, there's no proof any of that ever happened.
Historical records show that the Bordens employed a maid named Bridget Sullivan, nicknamed "Maggie," whom Lizzie mentioned during her trial. Like what's shown in Netflix's Monster, the police once suspected Sullivan was involved in the murders, but after confirming her alibi, she was cleared of the accusation. The Bordens' maid had been resting in her room after washing the windows when the murders were committed. Beyond that, the only relationship connected to Sullivan was her marriage to her husband, John, after the murder trial. The probable inspiration for Lizzie and Sullivan's romance is the long-standing speculation regarding the former's sexuality. Lizzie was 32 years old and unmarried when her parents were murdered, which was unheard of for women at the time. Following their deaths, she went on to live with her sister and then moved into her own mansion until her death at 66 years old.
Monster also suggests Lizzie and Nance O'Neil were romantically involved, having met at a similar age before the murder, but this isn't accurate. In reality, the two met when Lizzie was in her mid-40s, and O'Neil was 29, after Lizzie invited the actress to dinner. They became very close friends and spent time together at Lizzie's mansion, Maplecroft. O'Neil confirmed this and stated that she'd rest there whenever she was overworked, and Borden was also known to throw lavish parties for the actress's theater troupe. Monster's portrayal of their romance is entirely fictionalized, but the suggestion that the actress was involved in the Borden sisters' estrangement is real. It's reported that Emma resented Lizzie because of her relationship with O'Neil, and eventually moved out of Maplecroft. Of course, something romantic could have existed between O'Neil and Lizzie, speculated after O'Neil also described her as "distinctively attractive" in an interview with the New Bedford Standard daily newspaper, but there's no hard evidence.
If viewers take Monster as gospel, Charlie Hunnam's Andrew Borden and Rebecca Hall's Abby Borden are incredibly dislikable human beings. Andrew is frugal and emotionally distant after the loss of his first wife, seemingly wanting nothing to do with the women he's surrounded by. He takes more pride in his expansive collection of named axes and his job as an undertaker than he does as a father and husband. His wife, Abby, verbally abuses everyone around her, Lizzie especially, and possesses an ever-present, holier-than-thou demeanor. By the time Lizzie and "Maggie" murder them in Episodes 4 and 5, Monster has made it clear that the Borden home is cold, oppressive, and abusive.
Monster does get some facts right: Andrew was a very wealthy man (though he made his fortune as an investor in banks and textile factories), ran a strict household, and acted frugally. Monster also shows Abby favoring Emma over Lizzie; both daughters had a strained relationship with their stepmother. Because of this, they ate in separate rooms from their parents, and Lizzie, especially, became contentious with her, referring to her as only "Mrs. Borden." Other accounts from those around the Borden family, such as their dressmaker, also stated that Lizzie was quick to clarify that Abby was her stepmother while declaring her disdain.
سەرچاوەی فەرمی بە زمانی ئینگلیزی: https://gamerant.com/netflix-monster-lizzie-borden-inaccurate/
