What’s Fact and What’s Fiction in “Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story”?

**New Netflix Series Explores Lizzie Borden’s Infamous Case**

The latest instalment of the crime anthology series *Monster* has made its debut on Netflix, drawing inspiration from the notorious Lizzie Borden case. Season four of the series was released on 17 September, featuring a compelling portrayal of one of history’s most enigmatic figures. The show, created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, offers viewers a blend of fact and fiction, weaving Lizzie’s life story into the narrative fabric of 1892 Fall River, Massachusetts.

Central to the series is Lizzie Borden, portrayed by actress Ella Beatty. The character is based on the real-life figure who was famously acquitted of the brutal murders of her father and stepmother with a hatchet. Borden’s case has captivated and horrified the public, giving rise to numerous adaptations over the years, including the acclaimed *The Legend of Lizzie Borden* in 1975 and the film *Lizzie* in 2018. However, *Monster* takes creative liberties, merging factual accounts with speculative drama.

The series does stick closely to certain elements of the Borden case. Notably, it highlights the tense dynamics between Lizzie and her stepmother, Abby, alongside their family maid, Bridget Sullivan. While Lizzie and Bridget were indeed the only individuals present at the Borden home during the time of the murders, the show diverges from historical accuracy in many details concerning their characters and actions.

For example, the series portrays Andrew Borden as a woodworker primarily dealing in coffins, with shocking scenes suggesting he would alter corpses to fit them in. In reality, Andrew did operate a furniture and coffin business, but there is no evidence to support the claim that he engaged in such grotesque practices. In fact, he had diversified his income significantly through real estate and investments, amassing a considerable fortune by the time of his death.

Furthermore, the show presents Lizzie as suffering from painful health issues, depicted through her relationship with Bridget. The series suggests she had an imperforate hymen—an assertion that finds no grounding in historical facts. Lizzie was instead described by contemporaries as being of relatively robust health, a point further muddied by the bloodied rags discovered in the basement after the murders, which she claimed were used for menstruation.

The portrayal of Andrew and Abby Borden’s marriage is another point of artistic interpretation. The series implies that Andrew swiftly remarried after his first wife’s death, with the narrative fabricating hardships in Abby’s past. While the couple did marry two years after the death of Andrew’s first wife, there are no historical records to suggest the specific tragedies suggested in the show.

Adding to the dramatic narrative, *Monster* conveys the idea that Lizzie and Bridget conspired to murder Andrew and Abby, attempting to poison them before resorting to lethal axe blows. However, historical evidence does not support such a premeditated agreement, as Bridget’s testaments during investigation were consistent and she was never implicated in the crimes.

The series also ventures into fictional storytelling by fabricating a curiosity concerning a character named Bertha Manchester, whom Lizzie is suggested to have killed in a practice run. In actuality, Bertha was murdered by a different individual nearly ten months after the Borden slayings, indicating the show’s tendency to blur the lines between fact and invention for dramatic effect.

One of the more curious inclusions in this season is the relationship between Lizzie Borden and actress Nance O’Neil, portrayed in the show as a mentor figure who trained Lizzie for her murder trial. While O’Neil was a real actress and they did develop a friendship, historical accounts indicate that they met years after the conclusion of Lizzie’s trial—a facet overlooked in the show.

The legal outcome of Lizzie’s case remains a cornerstone of her legacy, and the series captures her acquittal, drawing from police interviews and court transcripts to enhance the authenticity of the courtroom drama. Nevertheless, it carefully skirts many complexities of those events, illustrating Lizzie’s contradictory statements during the inquest, which the judge ultimately deemed inadmissible due to her lack of legal counsel at the time.

Despite the romanticised presentation of Lizzie and Bridget’s situation throughout the series, historians confirm that there is no evidence of a romantic relationship, nor a collaborative plot to commit the notorious killings. The show undoubtedly invites intrigue, but it treads carefully on the lines of credibility.

Overall, *Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story* takes a fresh approach to a well-known tale, exposing audiences to the themes of female rage and societal oppression. While it imbues the narrative with compelling drama, viewers must navigate the murky waters between fact and fiction in this retelling of Lizzie Borden’s infamous life.